Lesson 4 of 10
Social Security and Medicare tax: what FICA means on your paycheck
Two more taxes come out of almost every paycheck.
Together they're called FICA.
Social Security: 6.2% of your pay.
Medicare: 1.45% of your pay.
That's 7.65% in total. Your employer pays the same amount again on top.
Example: $50,000 salary
Social Security (6.2%)$3,100
Medicare (1.45%)$725
Total FICA$3,825
Two limits to know for 2026:
Social Security tax stops after $184,500 of pay.
Medicare adds 0.9% more on pay above $200,000 (single filers).
Key idea
FICA is a flat 7.65% for most people. Unlike income tax, the standard deduction doesn't lower it.
Sources: IRS Topic 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding