How much does a Forensic Science Technicians actually take home in California?
Progressive (up to 13.3%) — 26.1% 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 Forensic Science Technicians earning $89,610 in California (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $89,610 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$11,555 | 12.9% |
| California State Income Tax | -$4,986 | 5.6% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$5,555 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,299 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$23,396 | 26.1% |
| Take-Home Pay | $66,213 | 73.9% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Forensic Science Technicians in California.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $60,000 | -$12,147 | $47,852 | 20.2% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $75,420 | -$17,869 | $57,550 | 23.7% |
| Median (P50) | $89,610 | -$23,396 | $66,213 | 26.1% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $118,530 | -$34,729 | $83,800 | 29.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $138,690 | -$42,984 | $95,705 | 31.0% |
After federal income tax ($11,555), state tax ($4,986), and FICA ($6,855), a Forensic Science Technicians in California takes home $66,213 per year — or $5,517 per month. The effective tax rate of 26.1% is moderate compared to the national range.
Where does a Forensic Science Technicians keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
California ranks #2 out of 44 states for Forensic Science Technicians after-tax take-home pay.
A Forensic Science Technicians in California earning a median salary of $89,610 will take home approximately $66,213 per year after federal income tax ($11,555), state income tax ($4,986), and FICA ($6,855). That is $5,517 per month or $2,546 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Forensic Science Technicians in California is 26.1%, broken down as: federal income tax 12.9%, California state tax 5.6%, 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 Forensic Science Technicians's median salary of $89,610, the state income tax amounts to $4,986 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.6%.
After all taxes, a Forensic Science Technicians in California takes home approximately $5,517 per month, or about $31.83 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 $89,610 for Forensic Science Technicians 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 — $66,213/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