Social Security Wage Base for 2025 Is Highest Yet

The Social Security wage base (also called the "contribution and benefit base" or the "taxable maximum") is the amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax in a given year. The Social Security Administration sets the wage base each year according to changes in the national average wage index. In 2025, the wage base is $176,100, a 4.4% increase over 2024, and a 48.6% increase over the last decade.

The wage base limit is only for Social Security tax. There is no wage base limit for Medicare tax.