How much does a Political Scientists actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 28.4% 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 Political Scientists earning $127,260 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $127,260 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$20,080 | 15.8% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$6,363 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$7,890 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,845 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$36,179 | 28.4% |
| Take-Home Pay | $91,080 | 71.6% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Political Scientists in Massachusetts.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $65,850 | -$14,658 | $51,191 | 22.3% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $76,650 | -$18,400 | $58,249 | 24.0% |
| Median (P50) | $127,260 | -$36,179 | $91,080 | 28.4% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $155,620 | -$46,573 | $109,046 | 29.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $201,090 | -$61,233 | $139,856 | 30.5% |
After federal income tax ($20,080), state tax ($6,363), and FICA ($9,735), a Political Scientists in Massachusetts takes home $91,080 per year — or $7,590 per month. The effective tax rate of 28.4% is moderate compared to the national range.
Where does a Political Scientists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Massachusetts ranks #6 out of 13 states for Political Scientists after-tax take-home pay.
A Political Scientists in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $127,260 will take home approximately $91,080 per year after federal income tax ($20,080), state income tax ($6,363), and FICA ($9,735). That is $7,590 per month or $3,503 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Political Scientists in Massachusetts is 28.4%, broken down as: federal income tax 15.8%, Massachusetts state tax 5.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
Massachusetts has a 5.0% flat rate. On a Political Scientists's median salary of $127,260, the state income tax amounts to $6,363 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Political Scientists in Massachusetts takes home approximately $7,590 per month, or about $43.79 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 $127,260 for Political Scientists 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 — $91,080/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