How a Ohio paycheck is built
Every Ohio worker pays federal income tax, calculated on the W-4 you submitted to your employer using the IRS Publication 15-T tables. Federal income tax is followed by FICA: 6.2 percent Social Security up to the annual wage base, plus 1.45 percent Medicare on every dollar. The 0.9 percent Additional Medicare Tax applies once year-to-date wages cross $200,000 single or $250,000 married filing jointly.
Ohio adds progressive state income tax. The bracket you fall into depends on filing status and taxable income. Verify current brackets with the Ohio Department of Taxation.
Local taxes: Ohio has cities or counties that levy local income tax on top of state tax. Common examples are noted on the local-tax page.
What changed recently in Ohio
- Top state rate cut from 3.75% to 3.5% in 2024, with further cuts proposed.
- City rates adjusted by individual cities annually.
- JEDD (Joint Economic Development District) taxes apply in some areas.
Ohio payroll quirks workers should know
- Many Ohio cities levy 1.5% to 2.5% city income tax on work AND on residence (with credits to avoid double tax).
- School district income tax (SDIT) applies in many districts on top of state and city.
- IT-4 state form, plus separate municipal forms.
Example breakdown
A hypothetical Ohio worker on a $65,000 annual salary, paid bi-weekly, single filer, no extra adjustments. Educational only, your real paycheck differs.
| Gross (bi-weekly) | $2,500.00 |
| Federal income tax | -$216.15 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$155.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$36.25 |
| Ohio state tax | -$137.50 |
| Estimated take-home | $1,955.10 |
Run your own numbers in the Ohio paycheck calculator.