Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Aerospace Engineers actually take home in Washington?
No state income tax — 25.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Aerospace Engineers earning $158,370 in Washington (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $158,370 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$27,547 | 17.4% |
| Washington State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$9,818 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$2,296 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$39,662 | 25.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $118,707 | 75.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Aerospace Engineers in Washington.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $112,580 | -$25,220 | $87,359 | 22.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $130,560 | -$30,860 | $99,699 | 23.6% |
| Median (P50) | $158,370 | -$39,662 | $118,707 | 25.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $181,460 | -$46,173 | $135,286 | 25.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $207,710 | -$53,016 | $154,693 | 25.5% |
Washington has no state income tax, which means a Aerospace Engineers keeps $118,707 of their $158,370 salary — 75.0% of gross pay. Only federal income tax and FICA reduce the paycheck, making Washington one of the most tax-friendly states for this occupation.
With an effective total rate of 25.0%, a Aerospace Engineers in Washington keeps $118,707 of $158,370 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
Washington is one of the few states with zero state income tax for wage earners. For a Aerospace Engineers, that means the only deductions are federal income tax and FICA — no additional state withholding. This typically adds several thousand dollars per year compared to comparable states with income tax.
Federal income tax ($27,547) accounts for 69% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $12,115 (31%), and state tax the remaining $0 (0%).
For Aerospace Engineers after-tax pay, Washington ranks #1 of 41 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $118,707 net/year works out to $9,892/month or $4,566/bi-weekly for this Aerospace Engineers in Washington — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Aerospace Engineers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Washington ranks #1 out of 41 states for Aerospace Engineers after-tax take-home pay.
A Aerospace Engineers in Washington earning a median salary of $158,370 will take home approximately $118,707 per year after federal income tax ($27,547), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($12,115). That is $9,892 per month or $4,565 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Aerospace Engineers in Washington is 25.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 17.4%, Washington state tax 0.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
No, Washington does not levy a state income tax on wages. This means a Aerospace Engineers in Washington only pays federal income tax and FICA taxes, resulting in a lower overall tax burden compared to most other states. The total effective rate is 25.0%.
After all taxes, a Aerospace Engineers in Washington takes home approximately $9,892 per month, or about $57.07 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $158,370 for Aerospace Engineers in Washington, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Washington state income tax (no state income tax), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $118,707/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR