W-2 vs 1099
which pays more?
As a contractor you pay full self-employment tax (15.3%) — see exactly how much more you need to earn to match a W-2 salary after all taxes.
$
W-2 Employee
$100,000
Federal Tax$13,495
SS + Medicare$7,650
State Tax$5,422
SDI$1,100
Total Tax$27,667
Net Income$72,333
Eff. Rate27.7%
1099 Contractor
$100,000
SE Tax (15.3%)$14,130
Federal Tax$11,941
State Tax$5,422
Total Tax$31,493
Net Income$68,507
Eff. Rate31.5%
To match your W-2 take-home, earn as a contractor
$107,000
$7,000 more than your W-2 salary ($72,333/yr take-home)
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Quarterly estimated taxes
As a 1099 contractor you must pay taxes quarterly. Your estimated payment is $7,873 due Apr 15, Jun 16, Sep 15, and Jan 15.
W-2 Employee1099 Contractor
✓Employer pays 7.65% FICA
✗You pay full 15.3% SE tax
✓Tax withheld automatically
✗Quarterly estimated taxes
✗No business deductions
✓Can deduct business expenses
✓Benefits often included
✗No employer benefits
Single filer · California · 2026 tax brackets
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