How to use the West Virginia paycheck calculator
- 1 Enter your pay and choose whether it is a yearly salary or an hourly wage (with hours a week).
- 2 Choose how often you are paid and your filing status.
- 3 Enter your children under 17 and your 401(k) contribution.
- 4 Read your take-home pay per paycheck and every deduction.
Worked example
A single West Virginia worker earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, with 5% to a 401(k). From each $2,307.69 check: $115.38 of 401(k), $179.23 of federal income tax and $176.54 of Social Security and Medicare, and $66.90 of West Virginia tax on $55,000 of taxable income ($57,000 less the $2,000 exemption). Take-home pay is $1,769.63.
Getting more from a West Virginia paycheck
- Check your pay stub against the calculator once a year.
- Raise your 401(k) to cut federal and state tax.
- Update your W-4 after marriage, a child or a raise.
- Expect a refund if early-2026 withholding used the old rates.
Compare with the Virginia Paycheck Calculator, the Pennsylvania Paycheck Calculator and check withholding with the W-4 Withholding Calculator.
Features
SB 392 rates
2.11% to 4.58% for 2026.
$2,000 exemptions
For you, your spouse and each dependent.
Salary or hourly
Enter a yearly salary or an hourly wage.
When to use it
Charleston and Morgantown jobs
Compare offers by take-home pay. Convert hourly pay with the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Moving to Virginia or Pennsylvania
Compare with the Virginia Paycheck Calculator.
Overtime
Work out time and a half with the Overtime Calculator.
Withholding check
Check your W-4 with the W-4 Withholding Calculator.
Related Pay and Salary tasks
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of a West Virginia paycheck?
On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks with 5% to a 401(k), about $67 of West Virginia tax comes out of each check, plus $179 of federal tax and $177 of Social Security and Medicare.
What are the West Virginia tax brackets for 2026?
2.11% on the first $10,000 of taxable income, 2.81% to $25,000, 3.16% to $40,000, 4.22% to $60,000 and 4.58% above. Married people filing separately use brackets half as wide.
How much did West Virginia cut taxes for 2026?
About 5% across all brackets. The top rate fell from 4.82% to 4.58%, retroactive to January 1, 2026; employers began using the new tables in June.
What is the West Virginia exemption?
$2,000 for you, your spouse and each dependent. West Virginia has no standard deduction.
Why might I get a West Virginia refund?
Withholding before June 2026 used the higher 2025 rates, so many workers had more withheld than they owe for the year.
What is Form WV/IT-104?
West Virginia's employee withholding exemption certificate. Two-earner couples can choose a table that withholds a little more.
Does West Virginia tax Social Security?
No. West Virginia's phase-out of tax on Social Security benefits is complete for 2026.
Do West Virginia cities tax wages?
There is no city income tax, but some cities charge a small flat weekly city service fee to people who work there.
Do 401(k) contributions lower West Virginia tax?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) contributions are excluded from West Virginia taxable wages as well as federal. They do not reduce Social Security or Medicare.
How is federal tax worked out here?
Your yearly pay minus 401(k) contributions and the $16,100 federal standard deduction ($32,200 joint) is taxed at the 2026 brackets, then $2,200 is subtracted for each child under 17.
Is this my exact paycheck?
It is a close estimate. Employers use official withholding tables, and other deductions such as health insurance, HSA or union dues change your check.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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