Where your West Virginia paycheck goes
Annual take-home versus federal, state, and FICA taxes.
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West Virginia Paycheck Calculator
Enter your salary to estimate your West Virginia take-home pay after federal income tax, West Virginia state income tax, and FICA, broken down per paycheck for any pay schedule.
Take-home per paycheck
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Gross annual pay—
Federal income tax—
West Virginia state income tax—
FICA (Social Security + Medicare)—
Net annual take-home—
Same salary, different states
Estimated 2026 take-home on an $80,000 single salary, before local taxes. West Virginia is highlighted.
How West Virginia taxes your paycheck
West Virginia has a progressive income tax with 5 brackets, from 2.22% to 4.82%, after a personal exemption of $2,000 ($4,000 for couples). That is on top of federal income tax, Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500 of wages in 2026) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% on wages above $200,000), which are the same in every state.
West Virginia income tax brackets for 2026
| Rate | Single (taxable income) | Married filing jointly |
|---|---|---|
| 2.22% | $0 – $10,000 | $0 – $10,000 |
| 2.96% | $10,000 – $25,000 | $10,000 – $25,000 |
| 3.33% | $25,000 – $40,000 | $25,000 – $40,000 |
| 4.44% | $40,000 – $60,000 | $40,000 – $60,000 |
| 4.82% | over $60,000 | over $60,000 |
Local taxes: A few West Virginia cities, including Charleston and Huntington, charge a small weekly city service fee on people who work there.
Working across state lines: West Virginia has a reciprocity agreement with Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia. If you live in one of those states and work in West Virginia, you can file an exemption form with your employer so only your home state's tax is withheld.
Worked example
A single filer in West Virginia earning $80,000 a year, paid every two weeks with no pre-tax deductions: federal income tax is $8,770, West Virginia income tax is $3,018 and FICA is $6,120, leaving $62,093 a year, or about $2,388 per paycheck. A married couple filing jointly on $120,000 keeps about $95,835 a year. Putting $5,000 into a traditional 401(k) would cut this single filer's federal tax to $7,670 and West Virginia tax to $2,777.
West Virginia take-home pay at different salaries (single, 2026)
| Salary | Federal tax | West Virginia tax | FICA | Take-home | Per bi-weekly check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $2,620 | $1,166 | $3,060 | $33,155 | $1,275 |
| $60,000 | $5,020 | $2,054 | $4,590 | $48,337 | $1,859 |
| $80,000 | $8,770 | $3,018 | $6,120 | $62,093 | $2,388 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $3,982 | $7,650 | $75,199 | $2,892 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $6,392 | $11,475 | $107,400 | $4,131 |
How West Virginia compares
On an $80,000 single salary, West Virginia take-home is about $62,093, $3,018 less than in Texas, which has no income tax, and $177 more than in California. The chart above shows West Virginia next to Texas, California and New York on identical pay.
What this estimate includes
taxable income = salary − pre-tax deductions − standard deduction
federal tax = 2026 federal brackets (standard deduction $16,100 single / $32,200 married)
West Virginia tax = 2026 West Virginia brackets on state taxable income
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% over $200,000)
per paycheck = (salary − all taxes − pre-tax deductions) ÷ pay periods
federal tax = 2026 federal brackets (standard deduction $16,100 single / $32,200 married)
West Virginia tax = 2026 West Virginia brackets on state taxable income
FICA = 6.2% Social Security (to $184,500) + 1.45% Medicare (+0.9% over $200,000)
per paycheck = (salary − all taxes − pre-tax deductions) ÷ pay periods
Local taxes and state payroll programs mentioned above are not included, and your actual withholding also depends on your W-4 and any state withholding certificate. State figures are the 2026 rates and brackets published by West Virginia, as compiled by the Tax Foundation.
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of an $80,000 paycheck in West Virginia?
For a single filer in 2026, about $17,908 a year: $8,770 federal income tax, $3,018 West Virginia income tax and $6,120 FICA, leaving $62,093, or $2,388 every two weeks. Local taxes are extra.
What is the West Virginia income tax rate in 2026?
West Virginia has a progressive income tax with 5 brackets, from 2.22% to 4.82%, after a personal exemption of $2,000 ($4,000 for couples).
Are there local income taxes in West Virginia?
A few West Virginia cities, including Charleston and Huntington, charge a small weekly city service fee on people who work there.
Is take-home pay higher in West Virginia or Texas?
Texas. With no state income tax, a single filer on $80,000 keeps about $65,110 in Texas against $62,093 in West Virginia, a difference of $3,018 a year.
How can I lower the tax on my West Virginia paycheck?
Pre-tax contributions to a 401(k), HSA or FSA lower federal and West Virginia taxable income. On $80,000, a $5,000 traditional 401(k) contribution cuts federal tax to $7,670 and West Virginia tax to $2,777.
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