How much does a Food Preparation Workers actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 19.2% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2024 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-04-02
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Food Preparation Workers earning $36,520 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $36,520 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,398 | 6.6% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$1,826 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,264 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$529 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,018 | 19.2% |
| Take-Home Pay | $29,501 | 80.8% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $32,500 | -$6,027 | $26,472 | 18.5% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $34,900 | -$6,618 | $28,281 | 19.0% |
| Median (P50) | $36,520 | -$7,018 | $29,501 | 19.2% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $41,010 | -$8,124 | $32,885 | 19.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $48,610 | -$9,998 | $38,611 | 20.6% |
After federal income tax ($2,398), state tax ($1,826), and FICA ($2,793), a Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts takes home $29,501 per year — or $2,458 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.2% is relatively low compared to the national range.
Where does a Food Preparation Workers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Massachusetts ranks #8 out of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after-tax take-home pay.
A Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $36,520 will take home approximately $29,501 per year after federal income tax ($2,398), state income tax ($1,826), and FICA ($2,793). That is $2,458 per month or $1,134 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts is 19.2%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.6%, Massachusetts state tax 5.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Massachusetts has a 5.0% flat rate. On a Food Preparation Workers's median salary of $36,520, the state income tax amounts to $1,826 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts takes home approximately $2,458 per month, or about $14.18 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 2024 BLS median salary of $36,520 for Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Massachusetts state income tax (5.0% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $29,501/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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