Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Social Science Research Assistants actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 21.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Social Science Research Assistants earning $63,480 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $63,480 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$5,806 | 9.1% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$3,174 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,935 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$920 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$13,836 | 21.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $49,643 | 78.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Social Science Research Assistants in Massachusetts.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $49,500 | -$10,217 | $39,282 | 20.6% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $49,980 | -$10,336 | $39,643 | 20.7% |
| Median (P50) | $63,480 | -$13,836 | $49,643 | 21.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $71,700 | -$16,685 | $55,014 | 23.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $82,130 | -$20,299 | $61,830 | 24.7% |
After federal income tax ($5,806), state tax ($3,174), and FICA ($4,856), a Social Science Research Assistants in Massachusetts takes home $49,643 per year — or $4,136 per month. The effective tax rate of 21.8% is relatively low compared to the national range.
With an effective total rate of 21.8%, a Social Science Research Assistants in Massachusetts keeps $49,643 of $63,480 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 Social Science Research Assistants salary that contributes $3,174 to the 5.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Social Science Research Assistants salary is $5,807 (42%), but combined state ($3,174, 23%) + FICA ($4,856, 35%) make up the other 58% of the bill.
Moving this same Social Science Research Assistants salary to a zero-state-tax state would yield around $52,817 net — a gain of $3,174 (6.4%) per year versus Massachusetts.
Massachusetts ranks #16 of 45 states for Social Science Research Assistants after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $49,643 net/year works out to $4,137/month or $1,909/bi-weekly for this Social Science Research Assistants in Massachusetts — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Social Science Research Assistants keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Massachusetts ranks #16 out of 45 states for Social Science Research Assistants after-tax take-home pay.
A Social Science Research Assistants in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $63,480 will take home approximately $49,643 per year after federal income tax ($5,806), state income tax ($3,174), and FICA ($4,856). That is $4,136 per month or $1,909 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Social Science Research Assistants in Massachusetts is 21.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 9.1%, 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 Social Science Research Assistants's median salary of $63,480, the state income tax amounts to $3,174 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Social Science Research Assistants in Massachusetts takes home approximately $4,136 per month, or about $23.87 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 $63,480 for Social Science Research Assistants 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 — $49,643/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