Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Meter Readers, Utilities actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 21.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Meter Readers, Utilities earning $54,150 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $54,150 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$4,514 | 8.3% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$2,707 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,357 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$785 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$11,363 | 21.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $42,786 | 79.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Meter Readers, Utilities in Massachusetts.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $43,280 | -$8,684 | $34,595 | 20.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $47,000 | -$9,601 | $37,398 | 20.4% |
| Median (P50) | $54,150 | -$11,363 | $42,786 | 21.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $72,780 | -$17,059 | $55,720 | 23.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $90,530 | -$23,209 | $67,320 | 25.6% |
After federal income tax ($4,514), state tax ($2,707), and FICA ($4,142), a Meter Readers, Utilities in Massachusetts takes home $42,786 per year — or $3,565 per month. The effective tax rate of 21.0% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 21.0%, a Meter Readers, Utilities in Massachusetts keeps $42,786 of $54,150 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
Massachusetts applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Meter Readers, Utilities salary that contributes $2,708 to the 5.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Meter Readers, Utilities salary is $4,514 (40%), but combined state ($2,708, 24%) + FICA ($4,142, 36%) make up the other 60% of the bill.
Moving this same Meter Readers, Utilities salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $45,494 net — a gain of $2,708 (6.3%) per year versus Massachusetts.
Massachusetts ranks #19 of 39 states for Meter Readers, Utilities after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $42,786 net/year works out to $3,566/month or $1,646/bi-weekly for this Meter Readers, Utilities in Massachusetts — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Meter Readers, Utilities keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Massachusetts ranks #19 out of 39 states for Meter Readers, Utilities after-tax take-home pay.
A Meter Readers, Utilities in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $54,150 will take home approximately $42,786 per year after federal income tax ($4,514), state income tax ($2,707), and FICA ($4,142). That is $3,565 per month or $1,645 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Meter Readers, Utilities in Massachusetts is 21.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.3%, Massachusetts state tax 5.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.7%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Massachusetts has a 5.0% flat rate. On a Meter Readers, Utilities's median salary of $54,150, the state income tax amounts to $2,707 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Meter Readers, Utilities in Massachusetts takes home approximately $3,565 per month, or about $20.57 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 $54,150 for Meter Readers, Utilities 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 — $42,786/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