CA SDI on your pay stub
CA SDI is California State Disability Insurance: 1.3% of your wages in 2026, taken from every paycheck. There's no yearly limit — since January 1, 2024 it applies to all wages. On a $60,000 salary that's $30.00 every two weeks, $780 a year.
How to check the CA SDI line
- Start from your gross pay for the period.
- Subtract pre-tax health, dental and other cafeteria-plan (section 125) benefits. Don't subtract 401(k) contributions — SDI is charged on them.
- Multiply by 0.013 (1.3%) — $13.00 for every $1,000. That should match the SDI line within a few cents.
Because there's no wage limit, the line keeps coming out all year, on bonuses and overtime too. The pay stub checker checks it with every other line.
CA SDI by salary
| Salary | CA SDI, every 2 weeks | CA SDI, yearly |
|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $15.00 | $390.00 |
| $45,000 | $22.50 | $585.00 |
| $60,000 | $30.00 | $780.00 |
| $80,000 | $40.00 | $1,040.00 |
| $100,000 | $50.00 | $1,300.00 |
| $150,000 | $75.00 | $1,950.00 |
| $250,000 | $125.00 | $3,250.00 |
1.3% of wages, no yearly limit. Paid every two weeks (26 paychecks), single filer. Where the line has a yearly limit, the yearly column applies it; the per-paycheck column is before the limit is reached.
What CA SDI pays for
SDI funds two programs run by the Employment Development Department (EDD):
- Disability Insurance — if you can't work because of an illness, injury or pregnancy, up to 52 weeks of benefits.
- Paid Family Leave — up to 8 weeks in a 12-month period to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill family member or support a family member's military deployment.
Both pay about 70–90% of the wages you earned 5 to 18 months before your claim, from $50 to $1,765 a week.
Why CA SDI went up for high earners
Until the end of 2023, SDI stopped once your wages for the year reached a limit. A 2022 law (SB 951) removed the limit from January 1, 2024, so higher earners now pay 1.3% on all their pay — $3,250 a year on $250,000.
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Sources
- California EDD — Contribution rates and benefit amounts — 2026: SDI 1.3%, no taxable wage ceiling (SB 951), maximum weekly benefit $1,765 (checked 2026-09-27)
- California EDD — Disability Insurance benefits — 70–90% of wages from 5–18 months before the claim; $50 to $1,765 a week for up to 52 weeks (checked 2026-09-27)
- California EDD — Paid Family Leave — up to 8 weeks in a 12-month period to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill family member or support a military deployment; $50–$1,765 a week (checked 2026-09-27)
- California EDD — Tax-rated employers — SDI withholding rate for 2026 is 1.3%; all wages subject since January 1, 2024
- California EDD — Types of Payments (DE 231TP) — 401(k) deferrals: SDI yes, PIT no; section 125 benefits generally not subject; HSA contributions subject to PIT withholding
Questions
What is CA SDI on my paycheck?
California State Disability Insurance: 1.3% of your wages in 2026, with no yearly limit. It funds Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave benefits.
How much is CA SDI per paycheck?
1.3% of your wages after pre-tax health benefits — $30.00 every two weeks on a $60,000 salary.
Is there a maximum for CA SDI in 2026?
No. The taxable wage limit was removed on January 1, 2024, so SDI applies to all wages.
Does my employer pay CA SDI too?
No — SDI is withheld from employees' pay. Some employers run an approved voluntary plan instead of the state plan; your stub would then show that plan's deduction.
What does CA SDI pay if I can't work?
About 70–90% of your past wages, $50 to $1,765 a week: up to 52 weeks for your own disability or 8 weeks of Paid Family Leave.