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F-1 OPT · California · Tax year 2026

F-1 OPT take-home pay in California, salary

$63,285 / year

That's $5,274/month or $2,434/biweekly, after federal income tax and state income tax (20.89% effective tax rate).

Annual
$63,285
Monthly
$5,274
Bi-weekly (×26)
$2,434

Why this number differs from a generic paycheck calculator

  • F-1 OPT holders are FICA-exempt — generic calculators add ~7.65% you don't owe.

    As a nonresident-alien F-1 OPT holder, you don't owe Social Security (6.2%) or Medicare (1.45%) on wages earned for services your visa authorizes. Generic paycheck calculators assume W-2 employee status and quietly add this 7.65% on top — making their take-home roughly $6,120 lower than the correct number. IRC §3121(b)(19) / IRS Pub 519.

  • NRAs cannot claim the federal standard deduction.

    Generic calculators silently apply the $16,100 single standard deduction. As a nonresident alien (no applicable treaty), you don't get it — that's roughly $3,542–$3,864 more federal tax at typical bracket rates. IRS Pub 519.

  • California SDI is 1.30% of all wages, with no wage-base cap (since 2024).

    Many calculators still apply the pre-2024 $153,164 wage base. We apply 1.30% to the full $80,000 per the SB 951 reform — that's $1,040 on this scenario, vs. $1,040 under the old cap. CA EDD — SDI rate notice.

Compare scenarios for this salary
Default (NRA, single) $63,285 From India (treaty) $66,827 After NRA period (resident) $60,707

How is the take-home calculated?

Line item Annual % of gross Source
Gross salary $80,000 100.00% Input ·
Federal income tax −$12,312 15.39% IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32
State income tax −$3,363 4.20% State Department of Revenue
State disability / payroll tax (e.g. CA SDI) −$1,040 1.30% State
Take-home pay $63,285 79.11%

Effective tax rate 20.89% · Marginal federal 22.00% · Marginal state 9.30% · 4 line items hidden ($0 at this scenario)

Show the math

  1. Gross salary: $80,000 .
  2. Federal taxable income: $80,000 (after standard deduction of $0).
  3. Federal income tax: $12,312 — computed by stepping through the SINGLE progressive brackets:
    • 10% on income up to $12,400
    • 12% on income up to $50,400
    • 22% on income up to $105,700
    • 24% on income up to $201,775
    • 32% on income up to $256,225
    • 35% on income up to $640,600
    • 37% on income above the previous cap
  4. FICA exemption: $0 — this visa is exempt from Social Security and Medicare as a nonresident alien (NRA) under IRC §3121(b)(19) / IRS Pub 519.
  5. State tax: $4,403 (income tax $3,363 + SDI/local $1,040).
  6. Total tax: $16,715 = 20.89% of gross.
  7. Take-home: $80,000 − $16,715 = $63,285.
Assumptions used in this calculation (2)
  • NRAs cannot claim the standard deduction (exception: F-1/J-1 students from India under treaty Article 21).
  • F-1 OPT holders are FICA-exempt for the first 5 calendar years (Social Security + Medicare = $0 while NRA).

Real purchasing power (cost-of-living adjusted)

CA price level: 113.2 (US average = 100). Your $63,285 nominal take-home buys roughly $55,905 worth of goods and services at US-average prices — about $7,379less, because CA is 13.2% more expensive than the national average.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities (RPP) — most recent available release. US average = 100. Numbers are rounded.. RPP measures all goods and services (housing, food, transportation, utilities). Last updated 2026-04-29.

Try your own numbers

$
Used for treaty lookup (e.g. India F-1 standard deduction).
$
$
Annual take-home
$63,285
$5,274 / month · $2,434 bi-weekly
Federal income tax
$12,312
FICA (exempt)
$0
State income tax
$3,363
State SDI
$1,040
Total tax
$16,715
Effective rate 20.89% · Marginal federal 22.00% · Marginal state 9.30%

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Other salary points for F-1 OPT in California

$60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000 $150,000 $180,000 $220,000 $280,000 $350,000 $500,000

Considering a move? See F-1 OPT state-by-state comparisons.

Frequently asked questions

Specific to this visa, state, and salary. Sourced to IRS, SSA, and state DOR.

How much does a F-1 OPT earn after tax on $80,000 in California?
A F-1 OPT holder grossing $80,000 in California takes home approximately $63,285 per year, or about $5,274/month. Total federal + state + payroll tax burden: $16,715 (20.89% effective rate).
Are F-1 OPT holders subject to FICA in this scenario?
No. F-1 OPT holders in NRA status are exempt from Social Security and Medicare for the first 5 calendar years (IRC §3121(b)(19), IRS Pub 519).
Can the standard deduction be claimed in this scenario?
No — as an NRA without an applicable tax treaty, the federal standard deduction is not available. NRAs may itemize state and local taxes paid only.
What state taxes apply in California?
California uses a progressive bracket system. On $80,000 you owe $3,363 in state income tax plus $1,040 in state disability/payroll tax.
How much would I save by moving to a no-state-tax state at this salary?
On $80,000, the same scenario in Texas (no state income tax) would net approximately $67,688 — about $4,403/year more than California. Florida, Washington, Nevada, South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska, Tennessee, and New Hampshire give the same result. Cost-of-living adjustments not included.
How are bonuses and RSU vesting taxed for F-1 OPT holders?
Bonuses and RSUs are supplemental wages. Federal supplemental withholding is a flat 22% on amounts up to $1M, then 37% above. California adds a flat 10.23% supplemental rate. FICA still applies if the visa is not FICA-exempt. This is withholding, not the final tax — high earners often underwithhold and owe at filing time.
Why is California SDI applied to my entire salary?
Senate Bill 951 (effective 2024) removed the California State Disability Insurance wage base entirely. Before 2024, SDI capped at the first ~$153k of wages; now the 1.30% rate applies to every dollar. On $80,000, that's $1,040 in SDI — a meaningful increase for higher earners. CA EDD source.
Where do these numbers come from?
Federal: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments). FICA: IRS Pub 15 + SSA 2026 COLA. State: California Department of Revenue. NRA rules: IRS Pub 519. Full source list and verification status on the verification page.

Sources

  1. IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments) (opens in new tab) — Federal tax brackets and standard deduction.
  2. IRS Pub 15 (Employer Tax Guide) (opens in new tab) — FICA withholding mechanics.
  3. IRS Pub 519 (US Tax Guide for Aliens) (opens in new tab) — NRA rules, substantial presence, treaty benefits.
  4. IRS Substantial Presence Test (opens in new tab)
  5. SSA 2026 COLA fact sheet (opens in new tab) — Social Security wage base.
  6. California Department of Revenue (opens in new tab) — State income tax rates and brackets.