Does Virginia Take State Tax Out of Your Paycheck?
Yes. Virginia charges a progressive state income tax that tops out at a 5.75% marginal rate. The brackets are narrow, so a large share of full-time workers land in that top bracket on most of their taxable income, not just a small slice of it near the top of a high salary.
This calculator is built around that structure. Enter your salary and filing status, and it shows what state tax, federal tax, and FICA each pull from your check. USACalculator built a Virginia version instead of a generic one so the state tax line reflects Virginia's actual brackets rather than a rate that was never going to apply to you.
The rates behind this tool come from Virginia Tax, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, IRS Publication 15-T, and the U.S. Department of Labor, checked against 2026 figures. It's built for planning, not filing. For an exact number on your return, run it past a licensed tax preparer or your payroll department.
Using the Calculator
Virginia is already selected below, so you can jump straight to your own numbers. Enter your gross pay, pick how often you're paid, and choose your filing status. The result updates as you type, showing your net pay for that period next to your total deductions for the year. If your employer hands you a stub that doesn't match, run the numbers again through our Virginia Pay Stub Generator to see where the gap comes from.
How the Math Works
Gross pay comes in first. Federal income tax comes out next, based on your filing status and the current IRS brackets. Then FICA takes 7.65% combined for Social Security and Medicare. Virginia state tax comes out after that, using the state's progressive brackets that top at 5.75%, and whatever remains is your net pay.
The inputs are your gross salary, pay frequency, and filing status. The outputs are your net pay per period and your total deductions for the year. Rates are pulled from current 2026 federal and Virginia brackets, so the estimate tracks closely with real payroll software, though your actual check can shift slightly depending on the benefits your employer runs pre-tax.
What Makes a Virginia Paycheck Different
State Income Tax: Progressive, Topping at 5.75%
Virginia's income tax climbs through a handful of brackets before landing at a top marginal rate of 5.75%. Because the brackets are compact, that top rate kicks in at a fairly low level of taxable income, so a large portion of a typical salary gets taxed close to that top rate rather than a low starter rate.
Local Income Tax: None
No city or county in Virginia is allowed to add its own income tax on top of the state rate. Work in Richmond, Arlington, Norfolk, or a small rural county, and the state tax line on your paycheck follows the same statewide brackets everywhere.
What Federal Tax and FICA Still Take
Federal income tax and FICA apply the same way in Virginia as anywhere else in the country. Social Security takes 6.2% up to the annual wage base, and Medicare takes 1.45% with no ceiling at all. Earn past $200,000 and an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax kicks in. Those Social Security dollars eventually become your retirement benefit, so it's worth checking our Virginia Retirement Calculator to see how today's withholding connects to what you'll draw later.
Minimum Wage and Overtime
Virginia's minimum wage sits above the federal floor of $7.25 an hour, and it has been rising on a legislated schedule in recent years rather than staying fixed. Overtime largely follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, paying 1.5 times the regular rate for hours worked past 40 in a week, and the state's own overtime wage act generally mirrors that federal standard.
How Often Virginia Employers Must Pay You
Virginia law generally requires employers to pay wages at least once every two weeks or twice a month. Some salaried employees can be paid monthly if there's a written agreement in place. Virginia law also requires employers to give each worker a written statement of gross wages and deductions every pay period, which is exactly what a pay stub is meant to cover.
A Real Example: $60,000 a Year in Virginia
Take a single filer earning $60,000, paid biweekly. Subtract the 2026 standard federal deduction of $15,000 and taxable income drops to $45,000 for federal purposes. Running that through the federal brackets puts the annual federal tax bill at roughly $5,160. Virginia's own brackets, reaching the 5.75% top rate quickly, put the state tax bill for this income near $3,000 to $3,300 as an estimate.
| Item | Annual Amount |
| Gross Pay | $60,000.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | ~$5,160.00 |
| Virginia State Tax | ~$3,150.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $3,720.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | $870.00 |
| Net Annual Pay | ~$47,100.00 |
Spread across 26 paychecks, that's roughly $1,812 landing in the bank each time, against a gross of $2,307.69. The effective tax rate lands near 21%, a real difference from a no-tax state, though these numbers are estimates and your actual withholding may vary.
Who Actually Uses This Calculator
People weighing a Virginia job offer against one in a different state use it to see the real gap in take-home dollars, not just the number printed on the offer letter. Contractors and freelancers use it to set aside the right amount for quarterly payments covering both federal and state tax. New residents lean on it to build a budget around actual net pay instead of guessing based on what their old state used to withhold. Once you know your net pay, it's a natural next step to see how much car you can afford with our Virginia Car Loan Calculator, or how a Virginia mortgage payment fits your budget using the Virginia Mortgage Calculator.
Mistakes People Make With Their Virginia Paycheck
- Assuming Virginia's state tax is a flat percentage rather than a set of brackets that top out at 5.75%.
- Comparing job offers by gross salary instead of net pay, which hides how much state tax actually takes.
- Forgetting that pre-tax benefits, like a 401(k), lower both federal and Virginia taxable income at once.
- Assuming overtime hours get taxed at a special higher rate. They don't. They just add to gross pay for that period.
- Mixing up semi-monthly pay, which is 24 checks a year, with biweekly pay, which is 26. The difference throws off a budget fast.
- Carrying high-interest credit card debt on the assumption that a normal paycheck will absorb it easily. Run the real payoff timeline first with our Virginia Credit Card Payoff Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virginia have a state income tax?
Yes. Virginia uses a progressive income tax topping out at a 5.75% marginal rate, and the brackets are compact enough that many middle-income filers reach that top rate on a large share of their income.
How much are paycheck deductions in Virginia?
Most Virginia workers lose roughly 20% to 30% of gross pay to federal tax, state tax, and FICA combined. The exact number depends on income, filing status, and any pre-tax benefits in place.
What is the Virginia minimum wage in 2026?
It sits above the federal floor of $7.25 an hour and has been rising on a legislated schedule in recent years. Check the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry for the current figure.
Does Virginia have different overtime rules?
Virginia largely follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act, paying 1.5 times the regular rate past 40 hours in a week, and its own state overtime wage act generally mirrors that standard.
How often must Virginia employers pay employees?
Generally at least once every two weeks or twice a month, though some salaried employees can be paid monthly with a written agreement in place.
Why is Virginia's top tax rate reached so quickly?
Virginia's brackets are compact compared to many states, so the 5.75% top rate applies starting at a fairly low level of taxable income, putting many full-time workers into that bracket.
Do Virginia residents still pay federal income tax?
Yes. Federal income tax and FICA apply to every worker in the country regardless of which state they call home, on top of Virginia's own state tax.
Can a city in Virginia charge its own income tax?
No. Virginia doesn't allow cities or counties to add a local income tax, so your paycheck's state tax line follows the same statewide brackets no matter where in Virginia you work.
How accurate is this Virginia paycheck calculator?
It runs on current Virginia tax brackets, federal tax brackets, and FICA rates, so it gets close to your real number. Your actual paycheck may vary slightly based on benefits, exemptions, and your employer's own payroll setup.
Should I still contribute to a 401(k) in Virginia?
Yes. A 401(k) lowers both your federal and Virginia taxable income, so contributions cut two tax bills at once instead of just one.
How does a Virginia paycheck compare to student loan or debt repayment plans?
Once you know your real net pay, it's easier to see how much room is left for repayment. Check what that looks like with our Virginia Student Loan Calculator or Debt Payoff Calculator before deciding how much to put toward either one each month.
Related Virginia and Paycheck Tools
This page is part of a growing set of state-specific tools on USACalculator. Pair it with the Virginia Pay Stub Generator for a matching stub, the Virginia Sales Tax Calculator for everyday purchases, and the general Paycheck Calculator if you're comparing Virginia against a different state. More Virginia-specific pages are on the way and will link directly from here as they go live.
Sources: Virginia Tax, Virginia Department of Labor and Industry, IRS Publication 15-T, U.S. Department of Labor. Figures reviewed against 2026 federal and Virginia tax tables. This calculator gives an estimate for planning purposes and is not tax advice — for your exact liability, check with a licensed tax preparer.