Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Security Guards actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 20.2% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Security Guards earning $44,670 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $44,670 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,376 | 7.6% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$2,233 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,769 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$647 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$9,027 | 20.2% |
| Take-Home Pay | $35,642 | 79.8% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Security Guards in Massachusetts.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $34,830 | -$6,601 | $28,228 | 19.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,720 | -$7,313 | $30,406 | 19.4% |
| Median (P50) | $44,670 | -$9,027 | $35,642 | 20.2% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $45,760 | -$9,295 | $36,464 | 20.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $55,800 | -$11,770 | $44,029 | 21.1% |
After federal income tax ($3,376), state tax ($2,233), and FICA ($3,417), a Security Guards in Massachusetts takes home $35,642 per year — or $2,970 per month. The effective tax rate of 20.2% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 20.2%, a Security Guards in Massachusetts keeps $35,643 of $44,670 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 Security Guards salary that contributes $2,234 to the 5.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Security Guards salary is $3,376 (37%), but combined state ($2,234, 25%) + FICA ($3,417, 38%) make up the other 63% of the bill.
A Security Guards earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $37,876 — only $2,234 (6.3%) more than in Massachusetts.
For Security Guards after-tax pay, Massachusetts ranks #7 of 51 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $35,643 net/year works out to $2,970/month or $1,371/bi-weekly for this Security Guards in Massachusetts — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Security Guards keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Massachusetts ranks #7 out of 51 states for Security Guards after-tax take-home pay.
A Security Guards in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $44,670 will take home approximately $35,642 per year after federal income tax ($3,376), state income tax ($2,233), and FICA ($3,417). That is $2,970 per month or $1,370 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Security Guards in Massachusetts is 20.2%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.6%, 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 Security Guards's median salary of $44,670, the state income tax amounts to $2,233 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Security Guards in Massachusetts takes home approximately $2,970 per month, or about $17.14 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 $44,670 for Security Guards 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 — $35,642/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