Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in Massachusetts?
5.0% flat rate — 19.5% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $38,460 in Massachusetts (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $38,460 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,631 | 6.8% |
| Massachusetts State Income Tax | -$1,923 | 5.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,384 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$557 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,496 | 19.5% |
| Take-Home Pay | $30,963 | 80.5% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $31,790 | -$5,852 | $25,937 | 18.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $35,290 | -$6,714 | $28,575 | 19.0% |
| Median (P50) | $38,460 | -$7,496 | $30,963 | 19.5% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $45,700 | -$9,281 | $36,418 | 20.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $62,200 | -$13,393 | $48,806 | 21.5% |
After federal income tax ($2,631), state tax ($1,923), and FICA ($2,942), a Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts takes home $30,963 per year — or $2,580 per month. The effective tax rate of 19.5% is relatively low compared to the national range.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.5%, keeping 80.5% of every gross dollar. That leaves $30,964 net out of $38,460 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Massachusetts applies a flat state income tax — every dollar of wage income is taxed at the same rate. For this Waiters and Waitresses salary that contributes $1,923 to the 5.0% effective state-tax burden.
Federal tax on this Waiters and Waitresses salary is $2,631 (35%), but combined state ($1,923, 26%) + FICA ($2,942, 39%) make up the other 65% of the bill.
A Waiters and Waitresses earning this gross in a no-income-tax state (e.g., Texas, Florida) would take home approximately $32,887 — only $1,923 (6.2%) more than in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts ranks #15 of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $30,964 net/year works out to $2,580/month or $1,191/bi-weekly for this Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Waiters and Waitresses keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Massachusetts ranks #15 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax take-home pay.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts earning a median salary of $38,460 will take home approximately $30,963 per year after federal income tax ($2,631), state income tax ($1,923), and FICA ($2,942). That is $2,580 per month or $1,190 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts is 19.5%, broken down as: federal income tax 6.8%, 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 Waiters and Waitresses's median salary of $38,460, the state income tax amounts to $1,923 per year, which is an effective state rate of 5.0%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in Massachusetts takes home approximately $2,580 per month, or about $14.89 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 $38,460 for Waiters and Waitresses 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 — $30,963/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