FICA Tax Explained 2026 — Social Security & Medicare Rates

FICA Tax Explained: How Much Comes Out of Your Paycheck

FICA is the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Enter your salary to see your 2026 Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) contributions — and the extra 0.9% Additional Medicare tax on high earners.

● 2026 SSA wage base $184,500 ● 7.65% combined FICA ● +0.9% high earner

🧾 Your FICA tax

What FICA is

What is FICA tax in 2026?

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is the payroll tax that funds two federal programs: Social Security (retirement, disability and survivor benefits) and Medicare (health coverage for people 65+). Every employee sees it on their pay stub, usually labeled "Social Security" and "Medicare" or "OASDI" and "Med."

Social Security 6.2% (6%)Medicare 1.45% (1%)Your take-home (92%)

The 2026 FICA rates

The employee share of FICA is 7.65% of wages, split into two parts:

Component	Rate	Applies to
Social Security (OASDI)	6.2%	Wages up to $184,500 (2026 base)
Medicare	1.45%	All wages, no cap
Additional Medicare	0.9%	Wages over $200k single / $250k married

💡

The Social Security wage cap: Once your wages cross $184,500 in 2026, you stop paying the 6.2% Social Security portion for the rest of the year. Medicare's 1.45% never stops — and high earners add 0.9% more.

FICA vs. income tax

FICA is separate from federal income tax. Income tax is progressive and depends on your bracket and deductions; FICA is a flat percentage of wages with no standard deduction. To see income tax and FICA together, run your salary through our paycheck calculator or gross-to-net calculator.

FICA Tax Explained FAQ

What does FICA stand for?

FICA stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. It is the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Employees pay 7.65% of wages (6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare) and employers match it.

How much FICA is taken out of my paycheck?

The employee FICA rate is 7.65% of gross wages: 6.2% for Social Security on wages up to the 2026 cap of $184,500, plus 1.45% for Medicare on all wages. On a $70,000 salary that is about $5,355 a year.

Is there a FICA wage limit?

Yes for Social Security. In 2026 the Social Security portion (6.2%) only applies to the first $184,500 of wages. The 1.45% Medicare portion has no cap, and an extra 0.9% Additional Medicare tax applies above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married).

Do self-employed people pay FICA?

Self-employed workers pay the equivalent through SECA (self-employment tax) at 15.3% — both the employee and employer halves — though they can deduct half of it. See our self-employment tax calculator.