California charges 1-13.3% state income tax. Use the stock option tax calculator pre-loaded with California rates.
Open Stock Option Tax Calculator →Stock option exercises in California are subject to up to 13.3% state income tax on top of federal tax. For NSOs, the spread at exercise is ordinary income subject to both federal and California state tax plus FICA. For ISOs, while there is no regular tax at exercise, the spread counts for AMT purposes and for California state tax calculations. This calculator helps you plan the optimal time and amount to exercise given California's tax rates.
California uses a graduated income tax with brackets ranging from 1-13.3%. Lower income is taxed at lower rates, with the 13.3% top rate applying only to income in the highest bracket. This progressive structure means your effective state tax rate is always lower than the top marginal rate. California does not have local income taxes, so the state graduated rate is the total state-level income tax burden.
The table below shows what you actually keep at five salary levels in California, accounting for federal tax, FICA, and California's graduated (1-13.3%) state tax.
See how California compares to other West states. Each link takes you to the stock option tax calculator landing page for that state.
For a comprehensive breakdown of California’s tax structure, salary comparisons, cost-of-living analysis, and more, visit the full California take-home pay page.