What is Pennsylvania’s income tax rate?

A flat 3.07% — unchanged since 2004 and the lowest flat rate among states that tax wages. It applies from the first dollar: PA has no standard deduction and no personal exemption, so a $85,000 salary owes $2,610 to the state.

Why is there no standard deduction in PA?

Pennsylvania’s constitution requires uniform taxation, which the courts read as barring graduated rates and most broad deductions. The trade-off: the rate itself stays very low. Low earners get relief only through the separate Tax Forgiveness program (not modeled here).

What about local wage taxes?

This is PA’s catch — nearly every municipality levies an Earned Income Tax, commonly around 1%, and Philadelphia’s wage tax is roughly 3.75% for residents. A Philadelphian’s true state-plus-local rate approaches 6.8%. This calculator covers the state layer only.

Does PA tax 401(k) contributions?

Yes on the way in — unlike federal law, PA does not exclude traditional 401(k) employee contributions from state tax. The flip side is generous: PA does not tax 401(k), IRA or pension withdrawals in retirement, nor Social Security. This calculator applies your pre-tax entry to federal tax only where states conform — for precision PA payroll, note this quirk.

How does 3.07% compare to neighboring states?

Very well at high incomes: New York reaches 5.9%+ and New Jersey’s brackets climb to 10.75%. At $120,000 single, PA’s $3,684 state bill is about $2,350 less than New York’s. Flat taxes favor high earners; at $60,000 the gap shrinks.

Is retirement income really tax-free in Pennsylvania?

Largely yes — Social Security, pensions and retirement-account withdrawals (after 59½) are all exempt from PA tax. Combined with the low flat wage rate, PA is one of the most retirement-friendly states in the Northeast.

No — all calculation happens in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, logged or stored, and the tool works offline once the page has loaded.

Pennsylvania Paycheck Calculator 2026

Take-home pay in Pennsylvania for 2026 — the flat 3.07% state tax with no deductions, plus federal tax and FICA.

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Annual salary (gross)

State

Filing status

Pay frequency

Pre-tax deductions per year (401k, HSA…)

Flat 3.07% on wages; Pennsylvania has no standard deduction or personal exemption. Most PA municipalities also levy a local earned income tax (commonly ~1%), not included here.

Estimates for the 2026 tax year using the standard deduction. Actual withholding depends on your W-4, benefits, credits, and local taxes. Not tax advice.

One rate, first dollar to last: 3.07%

Pennsylvania keeps it brutally simple: a flat 3.07% on wages with no standard deduction and no personal exemption — the state constitution’s uniformity clause forbids graduated rates. The rate hasn’t moved since 2004. Combined with 2026 federal brackets and FICA, this calculator shows exactly what lands in your account.

Pennsylvania take-home in 2026

Salary (single)	PA tax (3.07%)	Annual take-home	Monthly	Effective rate
$60,000	$1,842	$48,548	$4,046	19.1%
$85,000	$2,610	$66,018	$5,502	22.3%
$120,000	$3,684	$89,566	$7,464	25.4%

The local tax layer — don’t skip this

Almost every PA municipality adds an Earned Income Tax, typically about 1%, andPhiladelphia’s wage tax is roughly 3.75% for residents — more than the state tax itself. If you work in Philly, mentally add ~$3,200 to the state’s $2,610 at $85,000. This calculator models the state layer; your municipality’s EIT comes on top.

PA’s unusual 401(k) treatment

Pennsylvania taxes traditional 401(k) contributions on the way in (federal doesn’t) but thennever taxes retirement withdrawals, pensions or Social Security. Workers pay a little more now; retirees keep everything later — the opposite of most states’ deal. Estimates here use standard assumptions and exclude local EIT and credits — planning numbers, not tax advice, computed entirely in your browser. Compare states on the mainUS paycheck calculator or see neighboringOhio andNew York.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Pennsylvania’s income tax rate?
A flat 3.07% — unchanged since 2004 and the lowest flat rate among states that tax wages. It applies from the first dollar: PA has no standard deduction and no personal exemption, so a $85,000 salary owes $2,610 to the state.
Why is there no standard deduction in PA?
Pennsylvania’s constitution requires uniform taxation, which the courts read as barring graduated rates and most broad deductions. The trade-off: the rate itself stays very low. Low earners get relief only through the separate Tax Forgiveness program (not modeled here).
What about local wage taxes?
This is PA’s catch — nearly every municipality levies an Earned Income Tax, commonly around 1%, and Philadelphia’s wage tax is roughly 3.75% for residents. A Philadelphian’s true state-plus-local rate approaches 6.8%. This calculator covers the state layer only.
Does PA tax 401(k) contributions?
Yes on the way in — unlike federal law, PA does not exclude traditional 401(k) employee contributions from state tax. The flip side is generous: PA does not tax 401(k), IRA or pension withdrawals in retirement, nor Social Security. This calculator applies your pre-tax entry to federal tax only where states conform — for precision PA payroll, note this quirk.
How does 3.07% compare to neighboring states?
Very well at high incomes: New York reaches 5.9%+ and New Jersey’s brackets climb to 10.75%. At $120,000 single, PA’s $3,684 state bill is about $2,350 less than New York’s. Flat taxes favor high earners; at $60,000 the gap shrinks.
Is retirement income really tax-free in Pennsylvania?
Largely yes — Social Security, pensions and retirement-account withdrawals (after 59½) are all exempt from PA tax. Combined with the low flat wage rate, PA is one of the most retirement-friendly states in the Northeast.
Is my data stored?
No — all calculation happens in your browser. Nothing is uploaded, logged or stored, and the tool works offline once the page has loaded.