For 2026 the Social Security tax rate is 6.2% for the employee and 6.2% for the employer, charged only on the first $184,500 of wages. That caps the employee's Social Security tax at $11,439 for the year. Medicare tax is separate: 1.45% each, with no cap.
What are the 2026 Social Security and Medicare tax rates?
| Tax | Employee | Employer | Self-employed | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security (OASDI) | 6.2% | 6.2% | 12.4% | Wages up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | 1.45% | 2.9% | All wages, no cap |
| Additional Medicare Tax | 0.9% | none | 0.9% | Wages above $200,000 (single), $250,000 (married filing jointly), $125,000 (married filing separately) |
| Total up to $184,500 | 7.65% | 7.65% | 15.3% |
Together, Social Security and Medicare are known as FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) taxes for employees and as SECA for the self-employed. They are taken from every paycheck before you see it, in addition to federal income tax.
What is the Social Security wage base?
The wage base (the "contribution and benefit base") is the most income on which Social Security tax is charged in a year. The Social Security Administration adjusts it every year with average wage growth.
| Year | Wage base | Maximum employee Social Security tax (6.2%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $160,200 | $9,932.40 |
| 2024 | $168,600 | $10,453.20 |
| 2025 | $176,100 | $10,918.20 |
| 2026 | $184,500 | $11,439.00 |
Once your pay for the year passes $184,500, the 6.2% stops, and your paycheck gets a raise of that amount for the rest of the year. Medicare keeps going.
How much Social Security tax will I pay? Three examples
A $60,000 salary
Social Security: $60,000 × 6.2% = $3,720. Medicare: $60,000 × 1.45% = $870. Together $4,590, which is 7.65% of pay. The employer pays another $4,590 on top of the salary.
A $250,000 salary, single
Social Security stops at the wage base: $184,500 × 6.2% = $11,439. Medicare: $250,000 × 1.45% = $3,625. Additional Medicare Tax: ($250,000 − $200,000) × 0.9% = $450. The employee's total is $15,514, an overall 6.2% of pay.
$100,000 of self-employment profit
Self-employment tax is figured on 92.35% of net earnings: $100,000 × 92.35% = $92,350. Social Security at 12.4% is $11,451.40, and Medicare at 2.9% is $2,678.15, so the tax is $14,129.55. You can deduct half of it, $7,064.78, when you work out your income tax. At the cap, a self-employed person pays 12.4% of $184,500, which is $22,878.
Who pays the employer half?
The employer pays its own 6.2% and 1.45% on top of your wages; it never comes out of your paycheck. The Additional Medicare Tax is the exception: only the employee pays it, and employers must withhold it once wages pass $200,000, whatever your filing status. If you are married and file jointly, the real threshold is $250,000, and you settle the difference on your tax return.
What if I have two jobs?
Each employer withholds Social Security tax on its own wages without knowing about the other job. If the two jobs together pay more than $184,500, too much Social Security tax is withheld, and you claim the excess back as a credit on your tax return. Employers cannot refund it.
How is Social Security tax different from the benefit?
The tax you pay builds your earnings record. The benefit is later based on your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, and only earnings up to the wage base in each year count. That is why the cap exists on both sides: income above it is neither taxed for Social Security nor counted toward your benefit.
General information from SSA and IRS figures for 2026, not tax advice. Check your pay stub, and confirm your own situation with the IRS or a tax professional.