Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists actually take home in California?
Progressive (up to 13.3%) — 23.4% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists earning $73,950 in California (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $73,950 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$8,110 | 11.0% |
| California State Income Tax | -$3,530 | 4.8% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$4,584 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,072 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$17,297 | 23.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $56,652 | 76.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $47,180 | -$8,740 | $38,439 | 18.5% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $60,110 | -$12,177 | $47,932 | 20.3% |
| Median (P50) | $73,950 | -$17,297 | $56,652 | 23.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $84,740 | -$21,500 | $63,239 | 25.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $96,730 | -$26,170 | $70,559 | 27.1% |
After federal income tax ($8,110), state tax ($3,530), and FICA ($5,657), a Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California takes home $56,652 per year — or $4,721 per month. The effective tax rate of 23.4% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 23.4%, a Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California keeps $56,653 of $73,950 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
California uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary the state tax works out to $3,530 (4.8% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary is $8,110 (47%), but combined state ($3,530, 20%) + FICA ($5,657, 33%) make up the other 53% of the bill.
Moving this same Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $60,183 net — a gain of $3,530 (6.2%) per year versus California.
For Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists after-tax pay, California ranks #6 of 51 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $56,653 net/year works out to $4,721/month or $2,179/bi-weekly for this Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
California ranks #6 out of 51 states for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists after-tax take-home pay.
A Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California earning a median salary of $73,950 will take home approximately $56,652 per year after federal income tax ($8,110), state income tax ($3,530), and FICA ($5,657). That is $4,721 per month or $2,178 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California is 23.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 11.0%, California state tax 4.8%, 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 Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists's median salary of $73,950, the state income tax amounts to $3,530 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.8%.
After all taxes, a Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists in California takes home approximately $4,721 per month, or about $27.24 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 $73,950 for Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists 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 — $56,652/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