How much does a Meter Readers, Utilities actually take home in California?
Progressive (up to 13.3%) — 22.1% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2024 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-04-02
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Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Meter Readers, Utilities earning $68,300 in California (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $68,300 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$6,867 | 10.1% |
| California State Income Tax | -$3,005 | 4.4% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$4,234 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$990 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$15,097 | 22.1% |
| Take-Home Pay | $53,202 | 77.9% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Meter Readers, Utilities in California.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $48,840 | -$9,166 | $39,673 | 18.8% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $58,150 | -$11,635 | $46,514 | 20.0% |
| Median (P50) | $68,300 | -$15,097 | $53,202 | 22.1% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $85,740 | -$21,889 | $63,850 | 25.5% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $96,040 | -$25,901 | $70,138 | 27.0% |
After federal income tax ($6,867), state tax ($3,005), and FICA ($5,224), a Meter Readers, Utilities in California takes home $53,202 per year — or $4,433 per month. The effective tax rate of 22.1% is relatively low compared to the national range.
Where does a Meter Readers, Utilities keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
California ranks #5 out of 45 states for Meter Readers, Utilities after-tax take-home pay.
A Meter Readers, Utilities in California earning a median salary of $68,300 will take home approximately $53,202 per year after federal income tax ($6,867), state income tax ($3,005), and FICA ($5,224). That is $4,433 per month or $2,046 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Meter Readers, Utilities in California is 22.1%, broken down as: federal income tax 10.1%, California state tax 4.4%, 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 Meter Readers, Utilities's median salary of $68,300, the state income tax amounts to $3,005 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.4%.
After all taxes, a Meter Readers, Utilities in California takes home approximately $4,433 per month, or about $25.58 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 $68,300 for Meter Readers, Utilities 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 — $53,202/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