The rates, 2026
| You | Employer | |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 6.2% | 6.2% |
| Medicare | 1.45% | 1.45% |
| Total | 7.65% | 7.65% |
Social Security tax applies to pay up to $184,500 in 2026, so the most it can take from you is $11,439. Your employer pays the same $11,439 at that level. Medicare tax applies to all pay.
Worked example: a $2,000 paycheck
Example: $2,000 of gross pay in one paycheck. Social Security is $124.00, Medicare is $29.00. FICA is $153.00 out of your pay, before any income tax. Your employer separately pays another $153.00, so the job costs them $2,153.00 for the $2,000 you earned.
Where the cap changes it
Same rates, three annual incomes:
| Annual pay | Social Security | Medicare | FICA total | Share of pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $3,720 | $870 | $4,590 | 7.65% |
| $184,500 | $11,439 | $2,675 | $14,114 | 7.65% |
| $250,000 | $11,439 | $3,625 | $15,064 | 6.03% |
Above $184,500 the Social Security part stops, so the share of pay falls. Examples use straight salary and do not include the extra Medicare tax that applies at higher incomes, or any pre-tax deductions that change what counts as pay.
Common questions
Is FICA the same as income tax? No. It is a separate payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. Income tax withholding is on top.
Does my employer really pay the same again? Yes, by statute: 6.2 and 1.45 percent each for employees and employers.
What about self-employed people? They pay both halves: 12.4 percent Social Security and 2.9 percent Medicare, per the SSA.
Does the cap change? Yes, each year with the national average wage index. The 2026 base is $184,500.
Related tool
Raise vs Inflation checks whether a raise beat rising prices. It uses gross pay, so FICA comes out of the result on top.
Sources
Rates, cap and the $11,439 maximum: SSA, Contribution and Benefit Base (2026 base $184,500; 6.2% each for employee and employer; Medicare 1.45% each, no limit; self-employed 12.4% and 2.9%), retrieved October 12, 2026. 2026 base also published in the Federal Register notice of November 3, 2025. Dollar examples and shares are our arithmetic.
Limits
Educational explanation, not tax, legal or investment advice. Examples are labelled. Nothing here promises a result.