Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Food Preparation Workers actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 19.5% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Food Preparation Workers earning $38,900 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $38,900 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,684 | 6.9% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$1,945 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,411 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$564 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,604 | 19.5% |
| Take-Home Pay | $31,295 | 80.5% |
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) | $34,280 | -$6,466 | $27,813 | 18.9% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $36,060 | -$6,904 | $29,155 | 19.1% |
| Median (P50) | $38,900 | -$7,604 | $31,295 | 19.5% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $44,580 | -$9,004 | $35,575 | 20.2% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $48,420 | -$9,951 | $38,468 | 20.6% |
After federal income tax ($2,684), state tax ($1,945), and FICA ($2,975), a Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts takes home $31,295 per year — or $2,607 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.5% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.5%, keeping 80.5% of every gross dollar. That leaves $31,295 net out of $38,900 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Massachusetts applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Food Preparation Workers salary that contributes $1,945 to the 5.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Food Preparation Workers salary is $2,684 (35%), but combined state ($1,945, 26%) + FICA ($2,976, 39%) make up the other 65% of the bill.
A Food Preparation Workers earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $33,240 — only $1,945 (6.2%) more than in Massachusetts.
For Food Preparation Workers after-tax pay, Massachusetts ranks #7 of 51 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $31,295 net/year works out to $2,608/month or $1,204/bi-weekly for this Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Food Preparation Workers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Massachusetts ranks #7 out of 51 states for Food Preparation Workers after-tax take-home pay.
A Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $38,900 will take home approximately $31,295 per year after federal income tax ($2,684), state income tax ($1,945), and FICA ($2,975). That is $2,607 per month or $1,203 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts is 19.5%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.9%, 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 $38,900, the state income tax amounts to $1,945 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Food Preparation Workers in Massachusetts takes home approximately $2,607 per month, or about $15.05 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 $38,900 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 — $31,295/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