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The Pennsylvania Paycheck Calculator estimates your take-home pay accounting for Pennsylvania's flat state income tax and its extensive local earned income tax system. Pennsylvania imposes a flat state income tax rate of 3.07% on all taxable income, one of the lowest flat rates in the nation. However, the real complexity in Pennsylvania paycheck calculations comes from the local Earned Income Tax (EIT), which ranges from 1% to 3.88% depending on your municipality, and the Local Services Tax (LST), which can be up to $52 per year. Philadelphia's wage tax at 3.75% for residents (3.4481% for non-residents) makes it one of the most heavily locally taxed cities in the country. Pennsylvania's state income tax is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and is among the simplest in structure: a flat 3.07% on all taxable compensation with no standard deduction, no personal exemptions, and very limited deductions. This means nearly all of your earned income is subject to the 3.07% rate. The local EIT is administered by local tax collection officers or regional agencies like Keystone Collections Group and Berkheimer Tax Administrator. Nearly every municipality in Pennsylvania levies an EIT, with rates set by both the municipality and school district. Compared to neighboring states, Pennsylvania's combined state-plus-local tax burden varies dramatically by location. New Jersey has higher state rates (up to 10.75%) but no local earned income tax outside the state system. New York's state rates reach 10.9% plus NYC's 3.876%. Ohio has graduated state rates plus municipal taxes up to 3%. Delaware has rates up to 6.6% with no local tax. West Virginia ranges from 2.36% to 4.72%. For a Philadelphia worker, the combined 3.07% state plus 3.75% city tax equals 6.82%, competitive with states having graduated systems. But for a worker in a rural PA community with a 1% EIT, the combined 4.07% is quite low. This calculator serves Pennsylvania workers from Philadelphia's finance and healthcare sectors, to Pittsburgh's technology and healthcare industries, to the manufacturing and logistics workers in the Lehigh Valley, to agricultural workers in central Pennsylvania and state employees in Harrisburg.
Net Pay = Gross Pay - Federal Tax - PA State Tax (3.07% flat) - Local EIT (1-3.88%) - LST (up to $52/year) - FICA - Pre-Tax Deductions PA State Tax: 3.07% flat on all taxable compensation (no standard deduction or personal exemptions) Major Local EIT Rates: Philadelphia: 3.75% (residents) | 3.4481% (non-residents) Pittsburgh: 3% (residents) | 1% (non-residents) Harrisburg: 2.15% | Allentown: 1.875% | Scranton: 3.4% Most rural areas: 1-1.5% LST (Local Services Tax): Up to $52/year FICA: 6.2% SS (up to $168,600) + 1.45% Medicare + 0.9% Additional Medicare over $200,000
- 1Enter your gross pay amount and select your pay frequency. Pennsylvania employers use all standard pay schedules. Your gross pay includes base salary, overtime, bonuses, commissions, and taxable fringe benefits. Pennsylvania's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour (following the federal minimum), though Philadelphia has a $15.00 minimum for city employees and contractors. Include all taxable compensation for an accurate calculation.
- 2The calculator determines federal income tax withholding based on your W-4 form elections. Pre-tax deductions such as 401(k) contributions, health insurance premiums, and HSA contributions reduce federal taxable income. However, Pennsylvania does not follow federal rules for pre-tax deductions: PA taxes most forms of compensation including employer-provided benefits differently than the federal system. PA does exclude mandatory retirement plan contributions and certain health insurance premiums from taxable income.
- 3Pennsylvania state income tax is a flat 3.07% on all taxable compensation. There is no standard deduction, no personal exemptions, and very limited deductions. Your PA taxable compensation is essentially your gross earned income minus very few exclusions (such as mandatory retirement contributions and employee business expenses). This makes the state tax calculation simple: multiply your PA taxable compensation by 0.0307. The flat rate applies equally to all income levels.
- 4The calculator applies the local Earned Income Tax based on your municipality of residence and work. The EIT is split between your municipality and school district (for example, a total 2% EIT might be 1% to the municipality and 1% to the school district). If your work municipality's EIT rate is higher than your resident municipality's rate, you pay the work location rate and your resident municipality cannot collect additional tax. If your resident rate is higher, your employer withholds the work location rate and you owe the difference to your resident municipality.
- 5The Local Services Tax (LST) of up to $52 per year (typically $1 per week for weekly pay) is deducted by your employer if you work in a municipality that levies this tax. The LST funds local services and is a flat amount rather than a percentage of income. Workers earning below $12,000 annually may be exempt from the LST. Some municipalities charge less than the $52 maximum.
- 6FICA taxes are calculated at the standard federal rates. Social Security at 6.2% on wages up to $168,600, Medicare at 1.45% on all wages, plus the additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages over $200,000.
- 7The calculator produces your net take-home pay after all deductions. For a Philadelphia worker earning $70,000, the combined state (3.07%) plus city (3.75%) tax is 6.82% or approximately $4,774 annually, plus approximately $12,000 in federal tax and $5,355 in FICA. Total mandatory deductions are approximately $22,129 or about 31.6% of gross pay.
Gross biweekly pay is $2,884.62. Pre-tax 401(k) at 5% equals $144.23. Federal tax: approximately $310 per period. PA state tax: $75,000 times 3.07% = $2,302.50 annually or $88.56 per period. Philadelphia wage tax: $75,000 times 3.75% = $2,812.50 annually or $108.17 per period. FICA: $178.85 (SS) plus $41.83 (Medicare) equals $220.68. LST: $2.00 per period. Total deductions: approximately $873.64. Net pay: approximately $2,010.98.
Gross biweekly pay is $3,653.85. Pre-tax 401(k) at 8% equals $292.31. Federal tax after MFJ deduction and child credit: approximately $260 per period. PA state tax: $95,000 times 3.07% = $2,916.50 annually or $112.17 per period. Pittsburgh EIT: $95,000 times 3% = $2,850 annually or $109.62 per period. FICA: $226.54 (SS) plus $52.98 (Medicare) equals $279.52. Total deductions: approximately $1,053.62. Net pay: approximately $2,600.23.
Gross biweekly pay is $1,730.77. Federal tax: approximately $131. PA state tax: $45,000 times 3.07% = $1,381.50 annually or $53.13 per period. Local EIT: $45,000 times 1% = $450 annually or $17.31 per period. FICA: $107.31 (SS) plus $25.10 (Medicare) equals $132.41. LST: $2.00. Total deductions: approximately $335.85. Net pay: approximately $1,394.92. The lower 1% EIT saves approximately $1,200 annually compared to a Philadelphia worker at the same salary.
Philadelphia healthcare, finance, and education workers (the city's three largest employment sectors) use this calculator to understand their combined 6.82% state-plus-city tax burden. Philadelphia's wage tax is among the highest local income taxes in the nation, and when combined with the 3.07% state rate, it creates a significant paycheck impact. Workers at institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Comcast, and the major hospital systems use the calculator to evaluate whether living in the city (3.75% wage tax) or commuting from the suburbs (lower EIT but plus commuting costs) provides better after-tax outcomes.
Pittsburgh technology and healthcare workers (at companies like PNC Financial, UPMC, Carnegie Mellon University, and growing tech firms like Duolingo) use the calculator to understand the 3% local EIT plus 3.07% state rate. Pittsburgh's revitalization as a technology hub has attracted workers from across the country who are unfamiliar with Pennsylvania's local tax system. The calculator helps new Pittsburgh residents understand that their effective local tax rate of 6.07% is lower than Philadelphia's 6.82% but still significant.
Workers commuting across state lines, particularly between Pennsylvania and New Jersey or Delaware, use the calculator to navigate complex multi-state tax situations. NJ residents working in Philadelphia pay the 3.4481% non-resident wage tax and can credit it against their NJ return. DE residents working in PA face PA state tax plus EIT but can credit against DE. The calculator helps quantify these cross-border tax dynamics for workers making employment and residential location decisions.
Small business owners and payroll administrators across Pennsylvania face one of the most complex local tax withholding environments in the nation. With nearly every municipality levying an EIT at different rates, employers must determine the correct rate for each employee based on their residential municipality and work location. The calculator helps verify withholding accuracy and explains the credit system that prevents double taxation between work and resident municipalities.
Philadelphia Workers Living in NJ or DE
Many Philadelphia workers live across state lines in New Jersey or Delaware. NJ residents working in Philadelphia pay the 3.4481% non-resident wage tax plus PA state tax of 3.07%. Under the PA-NJ reciprocal agreement, NJ residents are exempt from PA state income tax on wages, but the Philadelphia wage tax is a local tax not covered by the reciprocal agreement. So NJ residents pay only the Philadelphia wage tax (3.4481%) on their Philadelphia wages, not the PA state tax. They then owe NJ state tax on their total income with a credit for the Philadelphia tax. Delaware residents have a similar arrangement.
Workers in the PA Act 32 EIT System
Pennsylvania Act 32 standardized the local EIT collection system in 2012, designating a single tax collection officer for each tax collection district. Despite standardization, rates still vary by municipality and school district. Workers whose employer is in a different tax collection district than their residence may experience delays in credit application between districts. Workers should verify their employer is using the correct EIT rate for both their work and resident locations, as errors in the dual-rate credit system are common.
Retirement Income Exemption for Early Retirees
Pennsylvania's exemption for retirement income applies to distributions received after reaching retirement age as defined by the retirement plan. For many plans, this is age 59.5. Workers who retire before 59.5 and begin drawing from retirement accounts may find that their distributions are subject to PA's 3.07% state income tax until they reach the plan's defined retirement age. This catches some early retirees off guard, particularly those who negotiate early retirement packages with lump-sum distributions.
| Jurisdiction | Rate | Type |
|---|---|---|
| PA State Income Tax | 3.07% | Flat rate, no deductions |
| Philadelphia (Resident) | 3.75% | Wage tax |
| Philadelphia (Non-Resident) | 3.4481% | Wage tax |
| Pittsburgh (Resident) | 3.0% | EIT |
| Pittsburgh (Non-Resident) | 1.0% | EIT |
| Scranton | 3.4% | EIT |
| Harrisburg | 2.15% | EIT |
| Most Rural Areas | 1.0-1.5% | EIT |
| Local Services Tax | Up to $52/year | Flat amount |
Why does PA not have a standard deduction?
Pennsylvania's flat 3.07% income tax is designed to be applied to virtually all earned income without deductions or exemptions. The state offers a very limited tax forgiveness provision for extremely low-income taxpayers (below approximately $6,500 for a single person with no dependents) but provides no standard deduction, personal exemptions, or itemized deductions for most taxpayers. This 'no deductions' approach keeps the rate low (3.07% is one of the lowest flat rates nationally) while maximizing the tax base.
How does the local Earned Income Tax work in PA?
Nearly every municipality in Pennsylvania levies a local EIT, which is split between your municipality of residence and your school district. Total EIT rates range from about 1% to 3.88% (Philadelphia and Scranton being the highest). If you work and live in the same municipality, your employer withholds the full EIT for that location. If you work in a different municipality than where you live, your employer withholds the work location rate, and you may owe additional tax to your resident municipality if its rate is higher. The credit system prevents double taxation.
What is the Philadelphia wage tax?
Philadelphia's wage tax is the city's version of the local EIT, applied at 3.75% for city residents and 3.4481% for non-residents who work in Philadelphia. It is one of the highest local income taxes in the United States. The wage tax applies to all wages, salaries, commissions, and other compensation earned for work performed in Philadelphia. Non-residents can credit the Philadelphia wage tax against their home municipality's EIT.
Does PA have reciprocal tax agreements with neighboring states?
Yes. Pennsylvania has reciprocal tax agreements with Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Under these agreements, residents of these states who work in PA (and vice versa) are only taxed by their state of residence, not the state where they work. This means a New Jersey resident working in PA suburbs (outside Philadelphia) pays only NJ tax, not PA tax. However, the Philadelphia wage tax is a local tax, not a state tax, so it applies to all non-residents who work in Philadelphia regardless of reciprocal agreements.
What is the Local Services Tax?
The Local Services Tax (LST) is a flat annual tax of up to $52 per year levied by municipalities on workers employed within their boundaries. It is typically withheld at $1 per week or prorated across pay periods. Workers earning less than $12,000 annually may be exempt. The LST is separate from the EIT and funds local emergency services. Not all municipalities levy the full $52; some charge less or do not impose the LST at all.
How does PA tax retirement and investment income?
Pennsylvania does not tax retirement income from qualified plans (401(k), 403(b), IRA distributions, and pensions) for individuals who have reached retirement age. Social Security benefits are also fully exempt from PA state income tax. This makes Pennsylvania very attractive for retirees compared to many other states. However, the local EIT applies only to earned income, so retirees living on retirement distributions and Social Security do not owe local EIT either.
Pro Tips
If you live in a PA municipality with a low EIT rate (1%) and work in a city with a high rate (like Philadelphia at 3.4481% for non-residents), you effectively pay the higher work-city rate with no additional resident tax. But if you live in Philadelphia (3.75%) and work in a suburb with a 1% EIT, you pay 1% to the suburb and 2.75% additional to Philadelphia. Consider the combined state-plus-local rate when choosing where to live and work in Pennsylvania, as the local tax differential can exceed $2,000 annually on a $75,000 salary.
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Philadelphia's wage tax, first enacted in 1939, was originally intended as a temporary measure to help the city recover from the Great Depression. Over 85 years later, it remains the city's single largest source of revenue and one of the highest local income taxes in the nation at 3.75% for residents. The tax has been blamed for driving population and business out of the city to surrounding suburbs, and the rate has been gradually reduced from its peak of 4.96% in the 1980s. Despite decades of criticism, the city government remains heavily dependent on wage tax revenue and has been unable to replace it with alternative funding sources.