# Average % of withholding **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-of-withholding/351087 "2006-04-03T15:59:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![furlibusea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@furlibusea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furlibusea)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-of-withholding/351087/1 "2006-04-03T15:59:47Z")
If a person In the United States got a job for minimum wage or slightly higher, what is the average % of his/her check that wouldn’t be there; assuming that the person could only claim self as dependant? I know roughly 11% is taken off for social security, but how much else would be lost, even if it can be gotten back as a rebate? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-of-withholding/351087/2 "2006-04-03T16:46:23Z")
Using myself as an example, last year I had 27% of my paycheck “not there”. Of this, 19% went to W2 withholding, 6.5% went to social security, and 1.5% went to medicare. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/average-of-withholding/351087/3 "2006-04-03T18:22:04Z")
Here is the IRS calculator: > **[Refunds | Internal Revenue Service](https://www.irs.gov/refunds)** > > COVID-19 Processing Delays > > For the latest information on IRS refund processing, see the  Click here for the minimum wage in your state: [http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm](http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm) Social Security and Medicare [FICA] take out 7.65% of your wages.