Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Computer and Information Research Scientists actually take home in California?
Progressive (up to 13.3%) — 32.3% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Computer and Information Research Scientists earning $159,100 in California (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $159,100 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$27,722 | 17.4% |
| California State Income Tax | -$11,449 | 7.2% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$9,864 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$2,306 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$51,342 | 32.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $107,757 | 67.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Computer and Information Research Scientists in California.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $88,920 | -$23,128 | $65,791 | 26.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $112,170 | -$32,184 | $79,985 | 28.7% |
| Median (P50) | $159,100 | -$51,342 | $107,757 | 32.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $213,630 | -$71,570 | $142,059 | 33.5% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $275,320 | -$99,007 | $176,312 | 36.0% |
A Computer and Information Research Scientists in California faces a combined 32.3% effective tax rate, taking home $107,757 out of $159,100. The progressive (up to 13.3%) adds $11,449 on top of federal and FICA taxes. In a no-income-tax state, this salary would yield approximately $119,206 — a difference of $11,449/year.
At an effective 32.3% combined tax rate, California takes one of the larger bites out of a Computer and Information Research Scientists's paycheck. Take-home settles at $107,757 from $159,100 gross after all withholdings.
California uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Computer and Information Research Scientists salary the state tax works out to $11,449 (7.2% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Computer and Information Research Scientists salary is $27,722 (54%), but combined state ($11,449, 22%) + FICA ($12,171, 24%) make up the other 46% of the bill.
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Computer and Information Research Scientists earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $119,206 — an extra $11,449 (10.6%) annually compared with California.
For Computer and Information Research Scientists after-tax pay, California ranks #7 of 35 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $107,757 net/year works out to $8,980/month or $4,145/bi-weekly for this Computer and Information Research Scientists in California — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Computer and Information Research Scientists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
California ranks #7 out of 35 states for Computer and Information Research Scientists after-tax take-home pay.
A Computer and Information Research Scientists in California earning a median salary of $159,100 will take home approximately $107,757 per year after federal income tax ($27,722), state income tax ($11,449), and FICA ($12,171). That is $8,979 per month or $4,144 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Computer and Information Research Scientists in California is 32.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 17.4%, California state tax 7.2%, 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 Computer and Information Research Scientists's median salary of $159,100, the state income tax amounts to $11,449 per year, which is an effective state rate of 7.2%.
After all taxes, a Computer and Information Research Scientists in California takes home approximately $8,979 per month, or about $51.81 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 $159,100 for Computer and Information Research 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 — $107,757/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