West Virginia Paycheck Calculator 2026
See what lands in your bank account each payday. West Virginia cut income tax rates for the third year in a row: 2026 rates run from 2.11% to 4.58%, after a $2,000 personal exemption.
| Line | This paycheck | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,500.00 | $65,000 |
| Federal income tax | -$191.55 | -$4,980 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$150.04 | -$3,901 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$35.09 | -$912 |
| West Virginia income tax | -$71.24 | -$1,852 |
| 401(k) | -$125.00 | -$3,250 |
| Health insurance | -$80.00 | -$2,080 |
| Take-home pay | $1,847.08 | $48,024 |
What your numbers mean
per paycheck, or $1,852 a year (2.8% of your gross pay).
to each paycheck. You keep about 76¢ of every extra dollar at this pay.
You put $125.00 into your 401(k) each paycheck, but your take-home only drops by $104.73. The difference is income tax you don't pay today.
Take-home pay at West Virginia pay levels
Based on West Virginia's minimum wage and its median and average wages (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). Single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) or health deductions.
| Salary | Every 2 weeks | Per month | Per year | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $18,200 Minimum wage, full time | $623.56 | $1,351.04 | $16,212 | 10.9% |
| $22,700 Half the median | $761.22 | $1,649.31 | $19,792 | 12.8% |
| $45,300 Median wage | $1,435.88 | $3,111.07 | $37,333 | 17.6% |
| $56,470 Average wage | $1,762.94 | $3,819.71 | $45,837 | 18.8% |
| $68,000 1.5× the median | $2,093.95 | $4,536.89 | $54,443 | 19.9% |
| $90,600 2× the median | $2,665.64 | $5,775.56 | $69,307 | 23.5% |
| $135,900 3× the median | $3,800.71 | $8,234.88 | $98,819 | 27.3% |
Hourly pay after taxes in West Virginia
Single filer working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. West Virginia's minimum wage is $8.75 an hour.
| Hourly rate | Weekly take-home | Yearly gross | Yearly take-home |
|---|---|---|---|
| $8.75 Minimum wage | $311.78 | $18,200 | $16,212 |
| $16.34 75% of the median | $550.68 | $33,987 | $28,635 |
| $21.78 Median wage | $717.97 | $45,302 | $37,335 |
| $27.15 Average wage | $881.50 | $56,472 | $45,838 |
| $32.67 1.5× the median | $1,046.39 | $67,954 | $54,412 |
| $43.56 2× the median | $1,332.88 | $90,605 | $69,310 |
West Virginia vs nearby states: take-home on $45,300
On a $45,300 (the West Virginia median) salary, a single filer keeps about $1,778 a year more in West Virginia than in Maryland. Single filer, paid every two weeks, no 401(k) or health deductions.
| State | Every 2 weeks | Per year | vs West Virginia |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Virginia | $1,435.88 | $37,333 | — |
| Kentucky | $1,427.33 | $37,111 | −$222 |
| Maryland | $1,367.48 | $35,554 | −$1,778 |
| Ohio | $1,430.80 | $37,201 | −$132 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,429.08 | $37,156 | −$177 |
| Virginia | $1,414.92 | $36,788 | −$545 |
More West Virginia pay calculators
Wages in West Virginia
| Median wage, all jobs | $21.78 an hour · $45,300 a year |
| Average (mean) wage | $56,470 a year |
| Take-home at the median wage | $37,333 a year · $1,435.88 every 2 weeks |
| Median household income (2024) | $60,798 |
| Jobs | 701,610 |
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024. Take-home assumes a single filer with no pre-tax deductions.
West Virginia income tax brackets 2026
| Rate | Taxable income (all filing statuses) |
|---|---|
| 2.11% | $0 – $10,000 |
| 2.81% | $10,001 – $25,000 |
| 3.16% | $25,001 – $40,000 |
| 4.22% | $40,001 – $60,000 |
| 4.58% | Over $60,000 |
- Personal exemption: $2,000 single, $4,000 married filing jointly.
Paychecks in West Virginia: what to know
- A law signed March 31, 2026, backdated to January 1, cut every bracket by about 5%. The top rate is now 4.58% above $60,000.
- This is the third straight cut: the top rate was 5.12% in 2023 and 4.82% in 2025.
- The same brackets apply to single and joint filers, so the top rate starts at $60,000 for both.
- Some cities charge a flat weekly city service fee on people who work there; it is not an income tax and is not included here.
- The minimum wage is $8.75 an hour for employers with six or more employees.
- Sales tax: 6% state sales tax plus up to 1% municipal tax.
How this calculator works
- Gross pay. Your salary, or hourly rate × hours × 52 weeks plus overtime at 1.5×, divided by your number of paychecks.
- Pre-tax deductions. 401(k) contributions lower your income tax. Health premiums lower income tax and Social Security/Medicare.
- Federal income tax. Yearly taxable pay minus the 2026 standard deduction, run through the 2026 IRS brackets.
- Social Security and Medicare. 6.2% up to $184,500, plus 1.45% Medicare (2.35% above $200,000).
- West Virginia. Yes. West Virginia cut its rates again for 2026 to between 2.11% and 4.58%, with the top rate starting at $60,000 of taxable income, after a $2,000 personal exemption.
Full details and federal sources are on the methodology page.
West Virginia sources
Common questions
Does West Virginia have a state income tax?
Yes. West Virginia cut its rates again for 2026 to between 2.11% and 4.58%, with the top rate starting at $60,000 of taxable income, after a $2,000 personal exemption.
What is the West Virginia income tax rate for 2026?
West Virginia has graduated income tax rates from 2.11% to 4.58% in 2026. The full 2026 brackets are listed on this page.
How much is the median West Virginia salary after taxes?
The median wage in West Virginia is $45,300 a year. A single filer with no 401(k) or health deductions takes home about $37,333 of it, or $1,435.88 every two weeks, which is 82% of gross pay.
What does a full-time minimum wage job in West Virginia take home?
At $8.75 an hour and 40 hours a week, gross pay is $18,200 a year. A single filer takes home about $16,212, or $623.56 every two weeks.
What percentage of my paycheck goes to taxes in West Virginia?
For a single filer with no pre-tax deductions in West Virginia, taxes take about 11% of pay for a full-time minimum wage job ($18,200), 18% at the state median of $45,300 and 24% at twice the median ($90,600). That counts federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, plus West Virginia income tax.
How much is the median hourly wage in West Virginia after taxes?
The median hourly wage in West Virginia is $21.78. Working 40 hours a week, that is $45,302 a year, and a single filer takes home about $37,335, or $717.97 a week ($17.95 per hour worked).
How much does the average West Virginia worker take home?
The average (mean) wage in West Virginia is $56,470 a year. After 2026 taxes, a single filer earning that keeps about $45,837 a year, or $1,762.94 every two weeks. The average is higher than the median because high earners pull it up.
How are bonuses taxed in West Virginia?
Employers usually withhold federal tax on a bonus at a flat 22%, plus Social Security and Medicare and West Virginia income tax. On a $5,000 bonus with a $45,300 salary, a single filer in West Virginia sees about $3,307 on payday and may get about $500 back at tax time.
What is the average salary in West Virginia?
The average (mean) wage in West Virginia is $56,470 a year, and the median is $45,300 ($21.78 an hour), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics for May 2025. Half of West Virginia workers earn more than the median and half earn less.
What is the median household income in West Virginia?
The median household income in West Virginia was $60,798 in 2024, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Household income combines everyone in the home, so it is higher than a typical single paycheck.
What do OASDI and FICA mean on my West Virginia pay stub?
OASDI is Social Security tax: 6.2% of your wages up to $184,500 in 2026. FICA is Social Security plus Medicare (1.45% of all wages, plus 0.9% above $200,000), 7.65% in total for most workers. On a West Virginia minimum wage paycheck ($700.00 for two weeks full time), FICA takes $53.55.
How much of my paycheck goes to Social Security and Medicare?
Social Security takes 6.2% of your wages up to $184,500 in 2026, and Medicare takes 1.45% of all wages. Medicare adds another 0.9% on wages above $200,000. At the West Virginia median wage of $45,300, that is $2,809 for Social Security and $657 for Medicare a year, or $133.29 per biweekly paycheck.
Why is my real paycheck a little different?
Your employer withholds using the W-4 you filled in and IRS Publication 15-T. Extra withholding, a second job, dependents, or other benefits change the number. This calculator spreads your estimated yearly tax evenly across your paychecks.
Do you take home more in West Virginia or Kentucky?
On a $45,300 (the West Virginia median) salary, a single filer keeps about $222 a year more in West Virginia than in Kentucky. Kentucky: $37,111, Maryland: $35,554, Ohio: $37,201, Pennsylvania: $37,156, Virginia: $36,788; West Virginia: $37,333 (single filer, $45,300 salary, no pre-tax deductions, typical local tax where it applies).