Connecticut paycheck taxes at a glance
| Income tax on wages | Progressive, 2% – 6.99% |
|---|---|
| CT Paid Leave (0.5%) | 0.5% of wages up to $184,500 |
| Minimum wage (2026) | $16.94 an hour (waitstaff at least $6.38 and bartenders at least $8.23 an hour plus tips) |
2026 Connecticut income tax brackets (single filers)
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 – $9,999 | 2% |
| $10,000 – $49,999 | 4.5% |
| $50,000 – $99,999 | 5.5% |
| $100,000 – $199,999 | 6% |
| $200,000 – $249,999 | 6.5% |
| $250,000 – $499,999 | 6.9% |
| $500,000 and up | 6.99% |
Example: a $100,100 salary in Connecticut
The median household income in Connecticut is about $100,056 (2025 data). Here's what one earner with that salary, paid every two weeks, filing single with no pre-tax deductions, would see on each paycheck in 2026:
| Gross pay | $3,850.00 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$507.38 |
| Social Security | −$238.70 |
| Medicare | −$55.83 |
| Connecticut income tax | −$191.58 |
| CT Paid Leave (0.5%) | −$19.25 |
| Take-home pay | $2,837.26 |
That's $73,769 a year in take-home pay, or 26.3% of gross pay going to taxes.
Take-home pay by salary in Connecticut
Single filer, paid biweekly, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions:
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | State taxes | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,266.44 | $32,928 | $1,393 | 17.7% |
| $60,000 | $1,837.40 | $47,773 | $2,618 | 20.4% |
| $80,000 | $2,343.65 | $60,935 | $4,175 | 23.8% |
| $100,000 | $2,834.81 | $73,705 | $5,475 | 26.3% |
| $150,000 | $4,031.38 | $104,816 | $8,975 | 30.1% |
| $200,000 | $5,259.79 | $136,755 | $12,173 | 31.6% |
What changed for 2026
- The minimum wage rose from $16.35 to $16.94 an hour on January 1, 2026, a 3.6% increase tied to the federal employment cost index. It's set to rise to $17.48 on January 1, 2027.
- The CT Paid Leave contribution stayed at 0.5%, and the wage cap it applies to rose with the Social Security wage base, from $176,100 to $184,500. The program's board voted to keep the rate at 0.5% for 2027.
Connecticut pay rules worth knowing
- Connecticut's default is weekly pay. Employers can pay less often, up to monthly, only with approval from the Labor Commissioner.
Why Connecticut tax rises faster than its brackets
Connecticut’s bracket rates run from 2% to 6.99%, but the tax isn’t as simple as applying them. Three features give lower-income households a break and then take it away as income rises:
- The personal exemption phases out. A single filer gets a $15,000 exemption, reduced by $1,000 for every $1,000 of Connecticut adjusted gross income over $30,000, so it’s gone by $45,000. Married couples filing jointly start at $24,000 with the phase-out beginning at $48,000.
- The 2% bracket is recaptured. Above a set income, Connecticut adds tax back in steps until the first $10,000 (single) has effectively been taxed at the 4.5% rate instead of 2%. Higher up, further recapture steps do the same for other brackets, until very high earners pay close to a flat rate on all income.
- The personal tax credit declines. Lower-income filers get a credit worth up to 75% of their tax. It shrinks as income rises and disappears for single filers above roughly $64,500.
The calculator applies all three. A side effect is that the extra tax on a raise can be noticeably higher than the bracket rate in some income ranges. That’s normal for Connecticut and not a payroll error.
CT Paid Leave
Connecticut’s paid family and medical leave program is funded entirely by employees. Employers deduct 0.5% from each paycheck until your wages for the year reach the Social Security wage base, $184,500 in 2026, so the most anyone pays is $922.50. Benefits replace part of your pay when you take qualifying leave. Employers aren’t required to contribute.
Withholding and Form CT-W4
Connecticut doesn’t use your federal W-4. You give your employer Form CT-W4 and choose a withholding code based on your filing status and household income. Employers use the code to look up your personal exemption, the 2% rate phase-out, the recapture amount and your personal tax credit, the same pieces described above. Code D allows no personal exemption and no credit, so it withholds the most. It can help if you have a second job or other income that would otherwise leave you owing.
The W-4 calculator helps with federal withholding, and the income tax calculator estimates your full-year federal tax.
Estimates only. Your employer’s payroll system, your W-4 and your Form CT-W4 determine your actual paycheck.
Sources
- Office of Governor Lamont: Minimum wage will increase on January 1, 2026
- Connecticut Department of Labor: Wage and workplace standards (2027 minimum wage)
- U.S. Department of Labor: State payday requirements
- CT Paid Leave: Contributions
- Connecticut DRS: TPG-211, 2026 withholding calculation rules
- IRS Publication 15 (2026): Social Security wage base
- Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas, 2025
- portal.ct.gov
- ctpaidleave.org
- IRS Publication 15-T (federal withholding)
Frequently asked questions
What is the most I'll pay into CT Paid Leave in 2026?
$922.50. The contribution is 0.5% of wages up to the Social Security wage base of $184,500. Once your wages for the year pass that amount, the deduction stops.
What does CT Paid Leave pay for?
It replaces part of your income while you take leave for your own serious health condition, to care for a family member, to bond with a new child and for certain other qualifying reasons. Your 0.5% contribution funds the program; employers don't have to contribute.
What is the minimum wage for tipped workers in Connecticut?
For 2026, restaurant waitstaff can be paid $6.38 an hour and bartenders $8.23 an hour, as long as tips bring them to at least the $16.94 minimum.
Why does my Connecticut tax rate jump more than the brackets suggest?
Because several benefits phase out as income rises. The personal exemption shrinks and disappears, the benefit of the lowest 2% bracket is recaptured, and the personal tax credit declines. Each adds a little tax as your income grows, on top of the bracket rate.
When does Connecticut's minimum wage increase next?
On January 1, 2027, to $17.48 an hour. Connecticut adjusts its minimum wage each January based on the federal employment cost index.
Facts verified November 6, 2026. Estimates only; your employer's payroll system and your W-4 determine your actual withholding.