Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Political Scientists actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 28.8% 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 $133,930 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $133,930 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$21,681 | 16.2% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$6,696 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$8,303 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,941 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$38,623 | 28.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $95,306 | 71.2% |
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) | $76,010 | -$18,178 | $57,831 | 23.9% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $106,960 | -$28,902 | $78,057 | 27.0% |
| Median (P50) | $133,930 | -$38,623 | $95,306 | 28.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $170,110 | -$51,790 | $118,319 | 30.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $217,820 | -$67,379 | $150,440 | 30.9% |
After federal income tax ($21,681), state tax ($6,696), and FICA ($10,245), a Political Scientists in Massachusetts takes home $95,306 per year — or $7,942 per month. The effective tax rate of 28.8% is moderate compared to the national range.
A Political Scientists in Massachusetts loses 28.8% of gross pay to taxes — higher than the ~25% national midpoint. Of the $133,930 gross, $95,306 lands in the paycheck after federal ($21,682), state ($6,696), and FICA ($10,246) withholding.
Massachusetts applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Political Scientists salary that contributes $6,696 to the 5.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal income tax ($21,682) accounts for 56% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $10,246 (27%), and state tax the remaining $6,696 (17%).
The state-tax gap is substantial: a Political Scientists earning this gross in a no-income-tax state would net about $102,003 — an extra $6,696 (7.0%) annually compared with Massachusetts.
Massachusetts ranks #5 of 13 states for Political Scientists after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $95,306 net/year works out to $7,942/month or $3,666/bi-weekly for this Political Scientists in Massachusetts — 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.
Massachusetts ranks #5 out of 13 states for Political Scientists after-tax take-home pay.
A Political Scientists in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $133,930 will take home approximately $95,306 per year after federal income tax ($21,681), state income tax ($6,696), and FICA ($10,245). That is $7,942 per month or $3,665 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Political Scientists in Massachusetts is 28.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 16.2%, 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 Political Scientists's median salary of $133,930, the state income tax amounts to $6,696 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Political Scientists in Massachusetts takes home approximately $7,942 per month, or about $45.82 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 $133,930 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 — $95,306/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