Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric actually take home in California?
Progressive (up to 13.3%) — 35.1% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric earning $253,430 in California (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $253,430 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$54,112 | 21.4% |
| California State Income Tax | -$20,221 | 8.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$10,453 | 4.1% |
| Medicare | -$4,155 | 1.6% |
| Total Taxes | -$88,942 | 35.1% |
| Take-Home Pay | $164,487 | 64.9% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in California.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $80,660 | -$19,910 | $60,749 | 24.7% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $103,450 | -$28,787 | $74,662 | 27.8% |
| Median (P50) | $253,430 | -$88,942 | $164,487 | 35.1% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $363,050 | -$140,072 | $222,977 | 38.6% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $457,010 | -$185,225 | $271,784 | 40.5% |
A Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in California faces a combined 35.1% effective tax rate, taking home $164,487 out of $253,430. The progressive (up to 13.3%) adds $20,221 on top of federal and FICA taxes. In a no-income-tax state, this salary would yield approximately $184,709 — a difference of $20,221/year.
At an effective 35.1% combined tax rate, California takes one of the larger bites out of a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric's paycheck. Take-home settles at $164,487 from $253,430 gross after all withholdings.
California uses a progressive state income tax, so brackets escalate as wages rise. For this Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric salary the state tax works out to $20,222 (8.0% effective) — on top of federal and FICA.
Federal income tax ($54,112) accounts for 61% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $14,609 (16%), and state tax the remaining $20,222 (23%).
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $184,709 — an extra $20,222 (12.3%) annually compared with California.
California sits near the bottom (#28 of 31) for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $164,487 net/year works out to $13,707/month or $6,326/bi-weekly for this Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in California — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
California ranks #28 out of 31 states for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric after-tax take-home pay.
A Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in California earning a median salary of $253,430 will take home approximately $164,487 per year after federal income tax ($54,112), state income tax ($20,221), and FICA ($14,608). That is $13,707 per month or $6,326 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in California is 35.1%, broken down as: federal income tax 21.4%, California state tax 8.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 5.8%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
California has a progressive (up to 13.3%). On a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric's median salary of $253,430, the state income tax amounts to $20,221 per year, which is an effective state rate of 8.0%.
After all taxes, a Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric in California takes home approximately $13,707 per month, or about $79.08 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 $253,430 for Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric 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 — $164,487/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