FICA Tax Rate 2026: Social Security and Medicare
| FICA component (2026) | Employee rate | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Social Security (OASDI) | 6.2% | wages up to $184,500 |
| Medicare | 1.45% | all wages |
| Additional Medicare | 0.9% | wages over $200,000 |
Worked example: on $100,000 of wages, Social Security is $6,200 and Medicare is $1,450 — $7,650 of FICA for the year, matched by the employer.
FICA is the payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare. It stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, and it splits into two parts that show up separately on your pay stub. Both you and your employer pay, and the 2026 rates are set by law.
The two pieces of FICA
Social Security tax is 6.2% of your wages. Medicare tax is 1.45%. You pay each of those from your paycheck, and your employer matches both, so a total of 12.4% goes to Social Security and 2.9% to Medicare once both sides are counted. Your share of the two together is 7.65%.
The Social Security portion is often labeled OASDI, for Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance. That is what it funds: retirement benefits, benefits for survivors, and disability insurance. The Medicare portion funds hospital insurance for people over a certain age and some others. Our OASDI explainer decodes that line on your stub.
The Social Security wage cap
Social Security tax only applies up to a yearly limit called the wage base. For 2026 the wage base is $184,500. Once your year-to-date wages pass it, the 6.2% Social Security tax stops for the rest of the year. Medicare is different. It has no cap, so the 1.45% continues on every dollar you earn, however high your pay goes. Our wage base page shows the recent history and how the limit is set.
The additional Medicare tax
High earners pay a little more for Medicare. Once your wages cross $200,000, an extra 0.9% is withheld from the pay above that line. Employers do not match this additional amount, so it is the employee's alone. It applies on top of the regular 1.45%, so wages above the threshold effectively carry a higher Medicare rate.
If you are self-employed
When you work for yourself, there is no employer to cover the other half. You pay both sides through self-employment tax, which combines the full 12.4% for Social Security, up to the same wage base, and the full 2.9% for Medicare with no cap. You can deduct part of it when you file, which softens the effect.
For how these rates flow into your paycheck alongside federal income tax, try the take-home pay calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Do employers pay FICA too?
Yes. Your employer matches your 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare, so the government receives double what you see withheld. The additional 0.9% Medicare tax on high earners is the only piece the employer does not match.
What is the difference between FICA and federal income tax?
FICA funds Social Security and Medicare at fixed rates. Federal income tax funds general government and is based on your income, filing status, and deductions. They are separate lines on your paycheck.
Does FICA come out of every paycheck?
Yes, on wages. Social Security stops for the year once you reach the wage base, but Medicare continues on all wages with no cap.
Federal: IRS 2026 brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) · FICA: IRS Topic 751 · Wage base: SSA. Rates current as of July 16, 2026. Annual-liability estimates, not payroll withholding — see methodology.