Louisiana Hourly Paycheck Calculator

Louisiana Payroll Taxes

Typical Louisiana paychecks include federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Louisiana state income tax. Louisiana does not require employee local income tax withholding on wages (some municipalities may have employer-side business or license taxes, not deducted from employee pay). Employers fund Louisiana unemployment insurance (SUTA) and federal FUTA. Pretax benefits—401(k), 403(b), 457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, and certain insurance premiums—can reduce taxable wages when plan-eligible.

• Federal (employee): Income tax (per W-4), Social Security, Medicare, and Additional Medicare for high earners.
• State (employee): Louisiana income tax withholding (per L-4/LA-W4 elections).
• Local (employee): None on wages (verify employer business taxes separately).
• Employer: Louisiana SUTA; FUTA; workers’ compensation as required.
• Pretax deductions: May lower federal/state taxable wages and sometimes FICA depending on plan type.

How Your Louisiana Paycheck Works

Your net pay equals gross wages (including overtime, tips, and supplemental pay) minus pretax deductions, then minus FICA, federal income tax, and Louisiana state withholding. Contributions to 401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA/FSA, or pre-tax Section 125 premiums can reduce taxable wages.

• Inputs to set: Hourly rate, hours, overtime, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, locality (if applicable), and deductions.
• Outputs you’ll see: Line-by-line taxes (FICA, federal, state), deductions, employer-paid items (for reference), and net pay.
• Supplemental pay: Bonuses/commissions may use flat or aggregate federal withholding—model both for comparison.

Louisiana Employer SUTA — 10 Years

Use this planning table and replace placeholders with official Louisiana Workforce Commission figures (taxable wage base, experience-rated range, and new-employer rate) before publishing.

Louisiana Salary Threshold

Louisiana generally follows the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). White-collar exemption depends on duties tests and meeting the federal salary-basis threshold. Job titles alone do not confer exemption. Confirm Louisiana minimum wage, tip credit, hospitality rules, and industry-specific exceptions when classifying roles and calculating overtime.

Median Household Income: Louisiana — 10 Years

Replace placeholders with the latest U.S. Census/ACS one-year (or five-year) estimates before publication.

FICA in Louisiana

FICA is federal and applies in Louisiana. Employees pay Social Security and Medicare; employers match both. Above the federal threshold, Additional Medicare tax is withheld (no employer match). Eligible pretax benefits can reduce FICA-taxable wages depending on plan rules (e.g., Section 125 health premiums).

Local Income Taxes

50-word summary: Many U.S. municipalities levy local wage or income taxes. Rates, bases, and residency/worksite rules vary. Louisiana does not require employee local income tax withholding on wages, though employer business taxes may exist. Verify city/parish obligations, reciprocity, and sourcing rules before estimating take-home pay.

Illustrative Local Tax Table

Louisiana Wage & Hour Laws

• Overtime: Most non-exempt employees earn 1.5× regular rate after 40 hours/week (FLSA standard; exemptions may apply).
• Pay frequency: Employers must pay regularly on established paydays and provide wage statements showing hours, rates, and deductions.
• Recordkeeping: Accurate timekeeping and retention of payroll records are required.

Additional Louisiana Forms

• IRS Form W-4 (federal withholding elections)
• Louisiana Employee Withholding Exemption Certificate (L-4/LA-W4) for state withholding
• Form I-9 employment eligibility verification
• Direct deposit authorization and benefit enrollment (401(k), HSA, FSA, insurance)
• Louisiana unemployment (LWC) employer account registration; new-hire reporting; required workplace posters

FAQs: Louisiana Hourly Paycheck Calculator

How do I use the calculator for hourly employees?

Enter hourly rate, hours, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, and pretax/post-tax deductions. Add overtime and tips if applicable. The calculator applies federal withholding, FICA, and Louisiana state withholding (L-4) to estimate net pay with a clear line-by-line breakdown.

Does Louisiana have local income taxes?

No. Louisiana does not impose employee local income tax on wages. Your paycheck reflects federal taxes, FICA, Louisiana state withholding, and any benefits or court-ordered deductions.

Which form controls Louisiana state withholding?

Use the Louisiana L-4 (Employee Withholding Exemption Certificate) alongside your IRS W-4. Update after life changes and mirror settings in the calculator.

How should I enter overtime, shift differentials, and bonuses?

Add overtime using the correct multiplier (typically 1.5× after 40 hours/week unless stricter policy applies). Enter differentials and supplemental wages separately to recalc gross and withholding.

Why did my paycheck change?

Common reasons: variable hours/overtime, bonuses, updated W-4/L-4 elections, benefits changes, or federal/state tax-table updates. Compare hours, rates, deductions, and withholding with prior pay stubs.

Can I include 401(k), HSA, FSA, commuter, or insurance premiums?

Yes. Pretax contributions reduce taxable wages and potentially lower federal/state tax and FICA. Post-tax items (garnishments, union dues) are entered after taxes.

How are tips treated?

Reported tips are taxable for federal, FICA, and Louisiana state tax. Include tips to ensure correct withholding and confirm minimum wage compliance where a tip credit applies.

Do multiple jobs change my withholding?

Possibly. Use the IRS multiple-jobs worksheet or W-4 estimator, update L-4 if needed, and run separate scenarios for each job to avoid under-withholding.

What is Additional Medicare tax?

Once wages exceed the federal threshold, Additional Medicare tax is withheld on the excess (no employer match) alongside regular Medicare.

Are bonuses and commissions taxed differently?

They are supplemental wages. Employers may use flat or aggregate federal withholding; Louisiana state withholding also applies. Enter separately to compare methods.

Can the calculator project annual take-home?

Yes. Multiply weekly hours by 52, include overtime and supplemental pay, then run estimates with pay frequency and deductions to see approximate annual net pay.