West Virginia Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Estimate your take-home pay in West Virginia after federal tax, FICA, and WV state income tax, using official 2026 rates.
Estimated take-home pay · West Virginia
$48,425 / year
Monthly
$4,035
Biweekly
$1,863
Hourly
$23.28
- Gross pay
- $60,000
- Federal income tax
- −$5,020
- WV state income tax
- −$1,965
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$3,720
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$870
- Take-home pay
- $48,425
- Effective tax rate
- 19.3%
How West Virginia taxes paychecks in 2026
West Virginia uses 5 graduated brackets from 2.2% to 4.8%. A personal exemption of $2,000 (single) / $4,000 (married) also reduces taxable income.
Single filer · 2026 WV brackets
| 2.22% | Up to $10,000 |
| 2.96% | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| 3.33% | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| 4.44% | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| 4.82% | Over $60,000 |
Married filing jointly · 2026 WV brackets
| 2.22% | Up to $10,000 |
| 2.96% | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| 3.33% | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| 4.44% | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| 4.82% | Over $60,000 |
What makes West Virginia paychecks different
West Virginia has cut income taxes three times since 2023. The five-bracket schedule on this page, from 2.22% to a 4.82% top rate above $60,000 of taxable income, is what applied when 2026 began. In March 2026 the legislature passed SB 392, an across-the-board 5% rate cut retroactive to January 1, 2026, which lowers the top rate to 4.58% and every other rate proportionally; withholding tables were updated in June. The law also sets a trigger to keep cutting rates whenever general fund revenue grows past an inflation-adjusted 2019 baseline. Your actual 2026 bill will be about 5% lower than the estimate above.
West Virginia has no standard deduction at all, only a $2,000 personal exemption per person, so the rates apply to almost every dollar of wages. Retirees got a milestone in 2026: after a three-year phase-out, Social Security benefits are now fully exempt regardless of income. Rather than a percentage local income tax, a few cities charge flat 'city service fees' on people who work inside city limits, including Huntington ($5 a week), Charleston ($3 a week) and Parkersburg ($2.50 a week), withheld by employers.
Reciprocity is generous: West Virginia has agreements with Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia, so Eastern Panhandle residents who commute to Maryland or Northern Virginia pay only West Virginia tax, and Ohio Valley workers pay only where they live. Sales tax is 6% with a 1% local option in many municipalities.
Updated for 2026: SB 392, signed March 31, 2026, cut every West Virginia income tax rate by 5% retroactive to January 1, 2026 (top rate 4.82% to 4.58%), and Social Security became fully exempt in 2026.
West Virginia take-home pay examples (2026)
Single filer, standard deduction, no dependents. Click a salary for the full 50-state comparison.
| Gross salary | Net / year | Net / month | Net / biweekly | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $35,000 | $29,370 | $2,448 | $1,130 | 16.1% |
| $45,000 | $37,039 | $3,087 | $1,425 | 17.7% |
| $55,000 | $44,630 | $3,719 | $1,717 | 18.9% |
| $65,000 | $52,209 | $4,351 | $2,008 | 19.7% |
| $75,000 | $58,912 | $4,909 | $2,266 | 21.5% |
| $85,000 | $65,465 | $5,455 | $2,518 | 23.0% |
| $100,000 | $75,295 | $6,275 | $2,896 | 24.7% |
| $120,000 | $88,401 | $7,367 | $3,400 | 26.3% |
| $150,000 | $107,496 | $8,958 | $4,134 | 28.3% |
How West Virginia compares
West Virginia's top rate of 4.8% is #25 of 51 US jurisdictions. For comparison, a $60,000 single filer keeps $48,425 in West Virginia versus $50,390 in no-tax Texas and $47,961 in California. See all rates on the 2026 state income tax table.
West Virginia paycheck FAQ
How much is $60,000 after taxes in West Virginia?+
A single filer earning $60,000 in West Virginia takes home about $48,425 per year ($4,035/month) in 2026: $5,020 goes to federal income tax, $4,590 to FICA, and $1,965 to West Virginia state taxes.
What is the West Virginia income tax rate in 2026?+
West Virginia's 2026 income tax runs from 2.2% to 4.8% across 5 brackets (single filer).
Does West Virginia tax 401(k) contributions?+
No. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce both your federal and West Virginia taxable income, so deferring salary lowers this year's tax bill.
What taxes come out of a paycheck in West Virginia?+
Every West Virginia paycheck loses federal income tax (10%–37% brackets) and FICA (6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 + 1.45% Medicare). West Virginia uses 5 graduated brackets from 2.2% to 4.8%.
Is West Virginia a high-tax or low-tax state for take-home pay?+
West Virginia's top marginal rate of 4.8% ranks #25 highest of the 51 US jurisdictions in 2026. At $60,000, a single filer keeps 81% of gross pay.