What percent of your wages does an employee pay for Medicare tax?

Employees pay 1.45 percent for Medicare.

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  1. 1.45 percent ✔
  2. 6.2 percent
  3. 2.9 percent

Why: The employer pays a matching 1.45 percent, so the total is 2.9 percent. Unlike Social Security tax, Medicare tax has no wage base limit.

Huh, didn't know that: An Additional Medicare tax of 0.9 percent applies to wages above $200,000 in a calendar year.

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Medicare tax is 1.45 percent. My patience at the DMV is less.
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References

Answer: 1.45 percent. The employer pays a matching 1.45 percent, so the total is 2.9 percent. Unlike Social Security tax, Medicare tax has no wage base limit.

  1. IRS Tax Topic 751: Social Security and Medicare withholding rates www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc751
    The current rate for Medicare is 1.45% for the employer and 1.45% for the employee, or 2.9% total.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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