Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Atmospheric and Space Scientists actually take home in California?
Progressive (up to 13.3%) — 29.9% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Atmospheric and Space Scientists earning $124,920 in California (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $124,920 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$19,519 | 15.6% |
| California State Income Tax | -$8,270 | 6.6% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$7,745 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,811 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$37,346 | 29.9% |
| Take-Home Pay | $87,573 | 70.1% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $82,900 | -$20,783 | $62,116 | 25.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $105,910 | -$29,745 | $76,164 | 28.1% |
| Median (P50) | $124,920 | -$37,346 | $87,573 | 29.9% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $144,910 | -$45,531 | $99,378 | 31.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $175,900 | -$57,769 | $118,130 | 32.8% |
After federal income tax ($19,519), state tax ($8,270), and FICA ($9,556), a Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California takes home $87,573 per year — or $7,297 per month. The effective tax rate of 29.9% is moderate compared to the national range.
A Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California loses 29.9% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $124,920 gross, $87,574 lands in the paycheck after federal ($19,519), state ($8,270), and FICA ($9,556) withholding.
California uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary the state tax works out to $8,270 (6.6% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary is $19,519 (52%), but combined state ($8,270, 22%) + FICA ($9,556, 26%) make up the other 48% of the bill.
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Atmospheric and Space Scientists earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $95,844 — an extra $8,270 (9.4%) annually compared with California.
For Atmospheric and Space Scientists after-tax pay, California ranks #3 of 47 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $87,574 net/year works out to $7,298/month or $3,368/bi-weekly for this Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Atmospheric and Space Scientists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
California ranks #3 out of 47 states for Atmospheric and Space Scientists after-tax take-home pay.
A Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California earning a median salary of $124,920 will take home approximately $87,573 per year after federal income tax ($19,519), state income tax ($8,270), and FICA ($9,556). That is $7,297 per month or $3,368 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California is 29.9%, broken down as: federal income tax 15.6%, California state tax 6.6%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
California has a progressive (up to 13.3%). On a Atmospheric and Space Scientists's median salary of $124,920, the state income tax amounts to $8,270 per year, which is an effective state rate of 6.6%.
After all taxes, a Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California takes home approximately $7,297 per month, or about $42.10 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 $124,920 for Atmospheric and Space Scientists in California, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), California state income tax (progressive (up to 13.3%)), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $87,573/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