Louisiana paycheck taxes at a glance
| Income tax on wages | Flat 3% |
|---|---|
| Standard deduction | $12,875 single · $25,750 married filing jointly |
| Minimum wage (2026) | $7.25 an hour (Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so the federal rate applies) |
Example: a $65,100 salary in Louisiana
The median household income in Louisiana is about $65,139 (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 | $2,503.85 |
|---|---|
| Federal income tax | −$216.62 |
| Social Security | −$155.24 |
| Medicare | −$36.31 |
| Louisiana income tax | −$60.26 |
| Take-home pay | $2,035.43 |
That's $52,921 a year in take-home pay, or 18.7% of gross pay going to taxes.
Take-home pay by salary in Louisiana
Single filer, paid biweekly, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions:
| Salary | Per paycheck | Per year | State taxes | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $1,288.70 | $33,506 | $814 | 16.2% |
| $60,000 | $1,883.70 | $48,976 | $1,414 | 18.4% |
| $80,000 | $2,426.78 | $63,096 | $2,014 | 21.1% |
| $100,000 | $2,944.86 | $76,566 | $2,614 | 23.4% |
| $150,000 | $4,218.36 | $109,677 | $4,114 | 26.9% |
| $200,000 | $5,512.05 | $143,313 | $5,614 | 28.3% |
What changed for 2026
- The standard deduction is indexed for inflation starting in 2026. Louisiana's 2026 withholding tables use $12,875 for single filers and $25,750 for married couples filing jointly and heads of household, up from $12,500 and $25,000. The Department of Revenue says the final amounts on 2026 returns may differ slightly.
- The flat 3% rate, first used in 2025, is unchanged.
Louisiana pay rules worth knowing
- Whether you quit or are fired, your final wages are due by the next regular payday or within 15 days of your last day, whichever comes first.
- Louisiana's payday statute requires paydays at least twice a month for manufacturing, oil and mining employers with 10 or more employees, and for public service corporations.
A simpler income tax since 2025
Louisiana rewrote its income tax in a special legislative session in late 2024. Act 11 replaced the old graduated brackets with a single 3% rate, starting with the 2025 tax year. It also set a much larger standard deduction, $12,500 for single filers, with married couples filing jointly and heads of household getting twice that.
Starting in 2026, the standard deduction is adjusted for inflation each year. The Department of Revenue’s updated 2026 withholding tables, issued in January 2026, use $12,875 for single filers and $25,750 for joint filers and heads of household. The department noted that the official 2026 amounts on the tax return may be slightly different, so treat these as close estimates.
With one rate and one deduction, Louisiana tax is easy to estimate. Subtract the standard deduction from your wages and multiply the rest by 3%. A single worker earning $50,000 owes about $1,114 for the year, an effective rate of about 2.2% of gross pay. Above the deduction, each extra dollar of wages costs exactly 3 cents in state tax.
What isn’t on a Louisiana pay stub
Compared with many states, a Louisiana paycheck is short:
- No city or parish income tax. Louisiana’s cities and parishes don’t tax wages.
- No state disability or paid-leave deduction. Louisiana has no state paid family leave or disability insurance program funded through payroll.
- No state minimum wage. Covered employers follow the federal $7.25 minimum.
That leaves federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and the 3% state tax.
Final pay and paydays
Louisiana has a firm final-pay rule. When you leave a job, whether you resign or are let go, your employer must pay everything you’re owed by the next regular payday or within 15 days, whichever comes first. Louisiana’s payday statute requires paydays at least twice a month for manufacturing, oil and mining employers with 10 or more workers and for public service corporations.
The income tax calculator estimates your full-year federal tax, and the sales tax calculator shows what Louisiana’s combined state and local sales taxes add to a purchase.
Estimates only. Your employer’s payroll system, your W-4 and your Form L-4 determine your actual paycheck.
How we calculate: Uses the standard deduction in Louisiana’s 2026 withholding tables; the final 2026 return amount may differ slightly.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Labor: State minimum wage laws
- U.S. Department of Labor: Minimum wages for tipped employees
- Louisiana R.S. 23:631: Final wages
- Louisiana R.S. 23:633: Paydays
- Act 11 (HB 10), 2024 Third Extraordinary Session
- Louisiana Department of Revenue: RIB 26-005, updated 2026 withholding tables
- Census Bureau: Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas, 2025
- dam.ldr.la.gov
- IRS Publication 15-T (federal withholding)
Frequently asked questions
What is Louisiana's income tax rate in 2026?
A flat 3% on taxable income after the standard deduction. Louisiana replaced its graduated brackets with the single rate starting in 2025.
What is the Louisiana standard deduction for 2026?
Louisiana's 2026 withholding tables use $12,875 for single filers and $25,750 for married couples filing jointly and heads of household. The amounts are now adjusted for inflation each year, and the Department of Revenue notes the official 2026 figures may be slightly different.
When is my final paycheck due in Louisiana?
By the next regular payday or within 15 days of your departure, whichever comes first. The same rule applies whether you resign or are let go.
Does Louisiana have a minimum wage?
No. Louisiana has no state minimum wage law, so employers covered by the federal Fair Labor Standards Act must pay at least $7.25 an hour, or $2.13 an hour plus tips for tipped employees.
Facts verified November 6, 2026. Estimates only; your employer's payroll system and your W-4 determine your actual withholding.