Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Political Scientists actually take home in Colorado?
4.4% flat rate — 27.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Political Scientists earning $127,260 in Colorado (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $127,260 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$20,080 | 15.8% |
| Colorado State Income Tax | -$5,599 | 4.4% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$7,890 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,845 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$35,415 | 27.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $91,844 | 72.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Political Scientists in Colorado.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $80,010 | -$19,084 | $60,925 | 23.9% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $82,540 | -$19,945 | $62,594 | 24.2% |
| Median (P50) | $127,260 | -$35,415 | $91,844 | 27.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $175,530 | -$52,387 | $123,142 | 29.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $197,490 | -$58,942 | $138,547 | 29.8% |
After federal income tax ($20,080), state tax ($5,599), and FICA ($9,735), a Political Scientists in Colorado takes home $91,844 per year — or $7,653 per month. The effective tax rate of 27.8% is moderate compared to the national range.
A Political Scientists in Colorado loses 27.8% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $127,260 gross, $91,844 lands in the paycheck after federal ($20,081), state ($5,599), and FICA ($9,735) withholding.
Colorado applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Political Scientists salary that contributes $5,599 to the 4.4% effective state-tax burden.
Federal income tax ($20,081) accounts for 57% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $9,735 (27%), and state tax the remaining $5,599 (16%).
Moving this same Political Scientists salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $97,444 net — a gain of $5,599 (6.1%) per year versus Colorado.
Colorado ranks #6 of 13 states for Political Scientists after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $91,844 net/year works out to $7,654/month or $3,532/bi-weekly for this Political Scientists in Colorado — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Political Scientists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Colorado ranks #6 out of 13 states for Political Scientists after-tax take-home pay.
A Political Scientists in Colorado earning a median salary of $127,260 will take home approximately $91,844 per year after federal income tax ($20,080), state income tax ($5,599), and FICA ($9,735). That is $7,653 per month or $3,532 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Political Scientists in Colorado is 27.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 15.8%, Colorado state tax 4.4%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Colorado has a 4.4% flat rate. On a Political Scientists's median salary of $127,260, the state income tax amounts to $5,599 per year, which is an effective state rate of 4.4%.
After all taxes, a Political Scientists in Colorado takes home approximately $7,653 per month, or about $44.16 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 $127,260 for Political Scientists in Colorado, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Colorado state income tax (4.4% flat rate), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $91,844/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