Social Security tax (OASDI) 2026
AnnouncedStudy2 min readSocial Security tax is 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 in 2026, so the most an employee pays is $11,439. The wage base rises to $192,300 in 2027.
Key figures
- Rate
- 6.2%
- Wage base 2026
- $184,500
- Wage base 2027
- $192,300
- announced
- Maximum tax 2026
- $11,439
What is OASDI tax?
OASDI is the 6.2% Social Security tax on wages. The letters stand for Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, the programs it pays for.
What is OASDI on my paycheck?
The OASDI line on a pay stub is Social Security tax: 6.2% of each paycheck until your wages for the year reach $184,500.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2026?
The 2026 wage base is $184,500. Wages above it pay no Social Security tax for the rest of the year, though Medicare tax continues.
What is the maximum Social Security tax for 2026?
The most an employee pays in 2026 is $11,439: 6.2% of $184,500.
What is the Social Security wage base for 2027?
The wage base rises to $192,300 in 2027 (announced), so the maximum tax becomes $11,923.
How much Social Security tax do you pay on $100,000?
On $100,000, Social Security tax is $6,200 for the year, 6.2% of every dollar, because the salary is under the wage base.
- Earned $160,000 or more in 2023
- 6.3%
- of wage earners
- Wage base in 2023
- $160,200
- Tax on $100,000
- $6,200
When does Social Security tax stop each year?
On a $250,000 salary paid every two weeks, Social Security tax stops in paycheck 20 of 26, and each of the last 6 paychecks is $596.15 bigger.
| Salary | Frequency | Stops in paycheck | Paychecks without it | Tax for the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $190,000 | weekly | 51 of 52 | 1 | $11,439 |
| $190,000 | biweekly | 26 of 26 | 0 | $11,439 |
| $190,000 | semimonthly | 24 of 24 | 0 | $11,439 |
| $190,000 | monthly | 12 of 12 | 0 | $11,439 |
| $200,000 | weekly | 48 of 52 | 4 | $11,439 |
| $200,000 | biweekly | 24 of 26 | 2 | $11,439 |
| $200,000 | semimonthly | 23 of 24 | 1 | $11,439 |
| $200,000 | monthly | 12 of 12 | 0 | $11,439 |
| $250,000 | weekly | 39 of 52 | 13 | $11,439 |
| $250,000 | biweekly | 20 of 26 | 6 | $11,439 |
| $250,000 | semimonthly | 18 of 24 | 6 | $11,439 |
| $250,000 | monthly | 9 of 12 | 3 | $11,439 |
| $300,000 | weekly | 32 of 52 | 20 | $11,439 |
| $300,000 | biweekly | 16 of 26 | 10 | $11,439 |
| $300,000 | semimonthly | 15 of 24 | 9 | $11,439 |
| $300,000 | monthly | 8 of 12 | 4 | $11,439 |
| $400,000 | weekly | 24 of 52 | 28 | $11,439 |
| $400,000 | biweekly | 12 of 26 | 14 | $11,439 |
| $400,000 | semimonthly | 12 of 24 | 12 | $11,439 |
| $400,000 | monthly | 6 of 12 | 6 | $11,439 |
| $500,000 | weekly | 20 of 52 | 32 | $11,439 |
| $500,000 | biweekly | 10 of 26 | 16 | $11,439 |
| $500,000 | semimonthly | 9 of 24 | 15 | $11,439 |
| $500,000 | monthly | 5 of 12 | 7 | $11,439 |
How this is calculated
- Equal paychecks through the year; the tax stops in the paycheck where wages for the year reach the wage base.
Do you get OASDI back on a tax return?
Not from one job. Only if two or more employers together withheld more than $11,439 does the extra come back, as a credit on your return.
How has the wage base changed since 1937?
It rose from $3,000 in 1937 to $184,500 in 2026. In 2023, 6.3% of wage earners earned at or above it.
Cite this page
The figures on this page may be reused with a link back to this page.
Paycheck Stats (2026). Social Security tax (OASDI) 2026. Paycheck Stats. Retrieved from https://paycheckstats.com/stats/social-security-tax (data checked November 1, 2026).
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