Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax — one of the lowest flat rates in the country. See exactly what you take home after federal, state, Social Security, Medicare, and local EIT.
Pennsylvania taxes all wages at a flat 3.07% with no standard deduction or personal exemption. On top of that, most Pennsylvania municipalities levy a local Earned Income Tax (EIT) — typically 1–2% in most areas, and 3.75% for Philadelphia residents. Enter your local EIT rate below for an accurate take-home estimate. If you live outside a municipality with a local tax, leave the local rate at 0%.
Pennsylvania's flat 3.07% income tax sounds simple — and it is, compared to states like New York or California. But Pennsylvania has two quirks that catch workers off guard: the local Earned Income Tax and the 401(k) rule.
The local EIT is the bigger surprise. Pennsylvania is one of the only states where your paycheck is hit by a third layer of income tax on top of federal and state. Every municipality and school district sets its own Earned Income Tax rate. Suburban workers outside Philadelphia or Pittsburgh typically see 1–2% withheld. Pittsburgh city residents pay around 3%. Philadelphia residents pay 3.75% — meaning a Philly worker earning $75,000 pays an effective state + local rate of 6.82%, not 3.07%. If you've moved recently and your employer hasn't updated your address, you may be withholding at the wrong local rate.
The 401(k) rule is genuinely unusual. Pennsylvania does not recognize traditional 401(k) contributions as a deduction. While your federal taxable income drops when you contribute pre-tax to a 401(k), Pennsylvania taxes that money at 3.07% anyway — in the year you earn it. The flip side: Pennsylvania doesn't tax your 401(k) withdrawals in retirement. So you pay the state tax going in but not coming out, which is a meaningful advantage if you retire and stay in Pennsylvania.
For retirees, Pennsylvania is one of the best states in the country. Social Security, pensions, and retirement account distributions are all fully exempt from Pennsylvania income tax. A retiree living in a low-EIT suburb pays 3.07% on only any wages they still earn — their retirement income is untaxed at the state level entirely. That's a big reason why Pennsylvania consistently ranks among the top retirement-friendly states despite its below-average cost-of-living advantage over neighbors like New Jersey and New York.
Estimates only. PA flat rate: 3.07%. No state standard deduction. Local EIT rates vary by municipality. Consult a tax professional for advice.
| Gross Pay (this check) | $0.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | −$0.00 |
| Pennsylvania State Tax (3.07%) | −$0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$0.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$0.00 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $0.00 |
Pennsylvania has a flat 3.07% state income tax rate for 2026. This single rate applies to all taxable wages — there are no brackets and no standard deduction. Pennsylvania is one of the few states that applies its flat rate directly to gross wages without any major deductions for most W-2 employees. The 3.07% rate has been in place since 2004.
Five taxes can come out of a Pennsylvania paycheck: federal income tax (progressive brackets based on your W-4), Pennsylvania state income tax (3.07% flat on gross wages), Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500), Medicare (1.45% on all wages), and local Earned Income Tax (EIT) which varies by municipality. Most PA workers pay between 4% and 6% in combined state + local taxes on top of federal.
Yes. Pennsylvania is unique in that most municipalities and school districts levy their own Earned Income Tax (EIT). Rates are typically split between your municipality (city/township) and your school district. Common combined rates run 1–2% in suburban areas and small cities. Pittsburgh's combined rate is around 3%. Philadelphia has the highest at 3.75% for residents. Your employer withholds EIT based on your home address.
The Philadelphia wage tax rate for 2026 is 3.75% for Philadelphia residents and 3.44% for non-residents who work in the city. Combined with Pennsylvania's 3.07% state tax, Philadelphia residents effectively pay 6.82% in state + local income taxes — significantly higher than the rest of Pennsylvania and comparable to many high-tax states.
Pennsylvania's 3.07% flat rate is substantially lower than neighboring New York (4%–10.9% progressive) and New Jersey (1.4%–10.75% progressive). A worker earning $75,000 in Pennsylvania pays roughly $2,300 in state income tax. That same worker in New York would pay approximately $3,900, and in New Jersey approximately $2,600. Pennsylvania's low flat rate is one of the reasons it attracts workers from the Philadelphia suburbs of NJ and the Pittsburgh area of Ohio.
Yes — and this is an important distinction. Traditional 401(k) contributions reduce your federal taxable income, but Pennsylvania does not allow the same deduction. PA taxes 401(k) contributions in the year they are contributed at the standard 3.07% rate. The trade-off: Pennsylvania does not tax 401(k) distributions in retirement. So you pay PA tax going in but not coming out, which can be a meaningful advantage for retirees living in Pennsylvania.
No. Pennsylvania does not tax Social Security benefits, pension income, or retirement account distributions. This makes Pennsylvania one of the most retirement-friendly states for taxes. Retirees in Pennsylvania pay the 3.07% state income tax only on wages and other earned income — their Social Security and pension checks are exempt entirely.
On a $75,000 salary paid biweekly ($2,885 per check), Pennsylvania withholds approximately $89 per paycheck in state income tax (3.07% of gross). On $100,000 ($3,846 per check), it's approximately $118 per paycheck. Because PA has no standard deduction, the calculation is straightforward: multiply your gross check by 0.0307. If you also have local EIT, add that on top — a Philadelphia resident earning $75,000 adds another $108 per biweekly check (3.75%).