20-Jan-15
Historical Social Security Tax Rates [1]
Year
Maximum taxable
earnings
OASDI tax
rate [2]
HI tax
rate [3]
Year
Maximum taxable
earnings
OASDI tax
rate [2]
HI tax
rate [3]
14,100
15,300
16,500
17,700
22,900
9.9%
9.9%
9.9%
10.1%
10.16%
1.8%
1.8%
1.8%
2.0%
2.1%
1937
1938
1939
3,000
3,000
3,000
2%
2%
2%
-
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
-
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
25,900
29,700
32,400
35,700
37,800
10.16%
10.7%
10.8%
10.8%
11.4%
2.1%
2.6%
2.6%
2.6%
2.6%
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
-
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
39,600
42,000
43,800
45,000
48,000
11.4%
11.4%
11.4%
12.12%
12.12%
2.7%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
3,000
3,600
3,600
3,600
3,600
3%
3%
3%
3%
4%
-
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
51,300
53,400
55,500
57,600
60,600
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
4,200
4,200
4,200
4,200
4,800
4%
4%
4.5%
4.5%
5%
-
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
61,200
62,700
65,400
68,400
72,600
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
4,800
4,800
4,800
4,800
4,800
6%
6%
6.25%
7.25%
7.25%
-
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
76,200
80,400
84,900
87,000
87,900
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
4,800
6,600
6,600
7,800
7,800
7.25%
7.7%
7.8%
7.6%
8.4%
0.7%
1.0%
1.2%
1.2%
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
90,000
94,200
97,500
102,000
106,800
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
12.4%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
7,800
7,800
9,000
10,800
13,200
8.4%
9.2%
9.2%
9.7%
9.9%
1.2%
1.2%
1.2%
2.0%
1.8%
2010
2011 [4]
2012 [4]
2013
2014
106,800
106,800
110,100
113,700
117,000
12.4%
10.4%
10.4%
12.4%
12.4%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2.9%
2015
118,500
12.4%
2.9%
Notes:
Amounts for 1937-74 and for 1979-81 were set by statute; all other amounts were determined under
automatic adjustment provisions of the Social Security Act.
Before 1989, the tax rate on self employed persons was less than the combined tax rate on employers and
employees.
For 1991, 1992 and 1993, the upper limits on earnings subject to HI taxes were $125,000, $130,200 and
$135,000 respectively. The upper limit was repealed by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.
[1] The tax rate refers to the combined rate for employers and employees.
[2] OASDI refers to the "Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance" program.
[3] HI refers to Medicare's Hospital Insurance program.
[4] For 2011 and 2012, the OASDI tax rate on wages for employees and self-employed individuals is
reduced from 6.2% to 4.2%. The OASDI tax rate on employers remains at 6.2%.
Sources: Social Security Administration, http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/cbb.html and
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/taxRates.html, last accessed January 20, 2015.