Virginia minimum wage: $13.50/hr (2026)
📊 Virginia Income Tax Overview 2026
Virginia uses a Progressive: 2%–5.75% income tax system. See the wage table below for common take-home pay amounts.
| Taxable Income (Single) | CA Tax Rate | Tax on Bracket |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $10,412 | 1.0% | up to $104 |
| $10,413 – $24,684 | 2.0% | up to $285 |
| $24,685 – $38,959 | 4.0% | up to $571 |
| $38,960 – $54,081 | 6.0% | up to $907 |
| $54,082 – $68,350 | 8.0% | up to $1,141 |
| $68,351 – $349,137 | 9.3% | up to $26,139 |
| $349,138 – $418,961 | 10.3% | up to $7,192 |
| $418,962 – $698,274 | 11.3% | up to $31,560 |
| $698,275+ | 13.3% | highest bracket |
Source: Virginia Tax · 2026. Progressive: 2%–5.75%.
💵 Common Hourly Wages — Virginia After-Tax
Here's what various hourly wages look like after Virginia taxes (single filer, 2026):
| Hourly Rate | Annual Gross | CA State Tax | Take-Home/yr | Take-Home/mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $17/hr | $35,360 | ~$618 | ~$28,700 | ~$2,392 |
| $20/hr | $41,600 | ~$935 | ~$33,200 | ~$2,767 |
| $22/hr | $45,760 | ~$1,155 | ~$36,100 | ~$3,008 |
| $25/hr | $52,000 | ~$1,614 | ~$40,500 | ~$3,375 |
| $30/hr | $62,400 | ~$2,450 | ~$48,100 | ~$4,008 |
| $35/hr | $72,800 | ~$3,350 | ~$55,400 | ~$4,617 |
| $40/hr | $83,200 | ~$4,260 | ~$62,500 | ~$5,208 |
| $50/hr | $104,000 | ~$6,450 | ~$76,600 | ~$6,383 |
🏙️ Virginia Major Cities — Wages & Cost of Living 2026
Here's a cost of living overview for major Virginia cities:
📖 California Tax Guide for Workers 2026
California State Income Tax
California uses a progressive income tax system with 9 brackets (1%–13.3%). Unlike federal taxes, California has a relatively low standard deduction of $5,202 for single filers in 2026, meaning more of your income is subject to state tax compared to federal tax.
State Disability Insurance (SDI)
California workers pay SDI at 0.9% of gross wages with no wage ceiling since January 2024. SDI provides short-term disability benefits and Paid Family Leave (PFL) — you may be eligible to receive up to 60–70% of your wages if you need to take time off for a qualifying disability or family reason.
California vs. No-Tax States
Compared to Texas or Florida (0% state tax), a California worker earning $52,000/year pays approximately $2,100–$2,500 more in state taxes annually. However, California offers benefits including disability insurance, paid family leave, strong worker protections, and higher minimum wages.
California Overtime Law
California has stricter overtime rules than federal law: overtime (1.5× rate) applies after 8 hours in a single day (not just 40 hours/week). Double time (2× rate) applies after 12 hours in a day or after 8 hours on the 7th consecutive day worked. This can significantly increase take-home for hourly workers who work long days.
California COLA & Living Wage
California has the highest cost of living of any U.S. state. The MIT Living Wage Calculator estimates a single adult in Los Angeles needs ~$30–35/hr to meet basic needs without government assistance. In San Francisco, the equivalent is closer to $38–42/hr. A $17/hr minimum wage, while the highest state minimum in the U.S., still falls short of a true living wage in California's major cities.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
The Virginia minimum wage is $13.50/hour in 2026, increased from previous years under HB 395. Virginia plans to potentially increase to $15/hr, subject to legislative approval. Northern Virginia's high cost of living makes $13.50 very challenging.
Virginia has progressive income tax from 2% to 5.75%: 2% on first $3,000, 3% on next $2,000, 5% on next $12,000, and 5.75% above $17,000 of taxable income. Personal exemption is $930 per person. Standard deduction: $8,000 single.
$25/hr (~$3,375/month after VA taxes) is comfortable in most Virginia cities outside Northern Virginia. Richmond and Virginia Beach 1-bedrooms average $1,200–$1,700. Northern Virginia (Arlington, Alexandria) is much more expensive at $2,000–$3,000+. Most financial advisors recommend budgeting 30% of take-home for housing (~$988/month) — which is very difficult in coastal CA metros at $25/hr.
No — Virginia has no mandatory state disability insurance or paid family leave. Employers may offer private short-term disability coverage. Virginia does offer some unemployment and workers' compensation protections but no state SDI payroll deduction.
At $52,000/year, Virginia workers take home ~$40,500 while Maryland workers (progressive up to 5.75% + county piggyback tax) take home approximately $38,500–$40,000. Virginia is slightly more favorable, and generally has lower housing costs outside Northern Virginia. These rules apply to most non-exempt employees regardless of industry.