The FICA tax on your paycheck is a federal payroll tax that funds Social Security and Medicare programs in the U.S. For employees in 2025, the total FICA tax rate is 7.65%, which is split into two parts:
- 6.2% for Social Security tax (also known as OASDI tax)
- 1.45% for Medicare tax
Your employer will also pay an equal 7.65% on your behalf. If you are self- employed, you pay the full 15.3% yourself, covering both the employee and employer portions. There is a wage limit for Social Security tax in 2025, which is $176,100. Earnings above this amount are not subject to the 6.2% Social Security tax. However, Medicare tax has no income limit. High earners may also pay an additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages exceeding certain thresholds, such as $200,000 for single filers. In summary, if you are a typical employee, 7.65% of your paycheck (6.2% Social Security plus 1.45% Medicare) will be withheld as FICA tax.
