Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Genetic Counselors actually take home in California?
Progressive (up to 13.3%) — 30.9% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Genetic Counselors earning $137,650 in California (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $137,650 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$22,574 | 16.4% |
| California State Income Tax | -$9,454 | 6.9% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$8,534 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,995 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$42,559 | 30.9% |
| Take-Home Pay | $95,090 | 69.1% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Genetic Counselors in California.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $105,810 | -$29,706 | $76,103 | 28.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $117,700 | -$34,389 | $83,310 | 29.2% |
| Median (P50) | $137,650 | -$42,559 | $95,090 | 30.9% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $170,450 | -$55,875 | $114,574 | 32.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $178,040 | -$58,513 | $119,526 | 32.9% |
A Genetic Counselors in California faces a combined 30.9% effective tax rate, taking home $95,090 out of $137,650. The progressive (up to 13.3%) adds $9,454 on top of federal and FICA taxes. In a no-income-tax state, this salary would yield approximately $104,545 — a difference of $9,454/year.
A Genetic Counselors in California loses 30.9% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $137,650 gross, $95,091 lands in the paycheck after federal ($22,574), state ($9,454), and FICA ($10,530) withholding.
California uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Genetic Counselors salary the state tax works out to $9,454 (6.9% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal tax on this Genetic Counselors salary is $22,574 (53%), but combined state ($9,454, 22%) + FICA ($10,530, 25%) make up the other 47% of the bill.
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Genetic Counselors earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $104,545 — an extra $9,454 (9.9%) annually compared with California.
For Genetic Counselors after-tax pay, California ranks #1 of 28 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $95,091 net/year works out to $7,924/month or $3,657/bi-weekly for this Genetic Counselors in California — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Genetic Counselors keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
California ranks #1 out of 28 states for Genetic Counselors after-tax take-home pay.
A Genetic Counselors in California earning a median salary of $137,650 will take home approximately $95,090 per year after federal income tax ($22,574), state income tax ($9,454), and FICA ($10,530). That is $7,924 per month or $3,657 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Genetic Counselors in California is 30.9%, broken down as: federal income tax 16.4%, California state tax 6.9%, 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 Genetic Counselors's median salary of $137,650, the state income tax amounts to $9,454 per year, which is an effective state rate of 6.9%.
After all taxes, a Genetic Counselors in California takes home approximately $7,924 per month, or about $45.72 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 $137,650 for Genetic Counselors 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 — $95,090/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