How Massachusetts taxes your paycheck
Massachusetts has progressive income tax rates from 5% to 9% for tax year 2026, in 2 brackets. Before the rate applies, the calculator subtracts a personal exemption of $4,400 per filer ($8,800 for a married couple).
Traditional 401(k) contributions are excluded from Massachusetts taxable wages, and Section 125 health premiums are excluded.
Figures are from Massachusetts DOR: 4% surtax, 2026 threshold (tax year 2026).
Take-home pay examples in Massachusetts
A single filer earning $60,000 in Massachusetts, paid every two weeks, takes home about $1,824.38 per paycheck, or $47,434 a year. Of the $60,000, $5,020 goes to federal income tax, $4,590 to Social Security and Medicare, and $2,680 to Massachusetts income tax, plus $276 of state payroll contributions.
At $100,000, take-home pay is about $74,040 a year ($2,847.69 per paycheck), with $4,680 of Massachusetts income tax. A married couple filing jointly on one $100,000 salary keeps about $79,790, because of the larger standard deduction and wider brackets. The table below shows more salaries.
Massachusetts payroll contributions
Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave: 0.46% of wages up to $184,500 a year (tax year 2026; official source). This is deducted from your pay in addition to income tax and is included in the calculator.
Local income taxes in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has no local income taxes on wages.
Hourly pay in Massachusetts
A full-time worker earning $20 an hour (40 hours a week, $41,600 a year) in Massachusetts takes home about $1,294.39 every two weeks, or $647.20 a week on average, as a single filer. Massachusetts income tax takes $1,760 of that pay a year, an effective state rate of 4.231%. Choose Hourly wage in the calculator to enter your own rate and hours.
Massachusetts compared with neighboring states
On a $75,000 salary (single, no pre-tax deductions), take-home pay in Massachusetts is about $57,818 a year. It is higher in New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and lower in New York. The comparison table below shows the difference in dollars. Where you live usually decides which state taxes your wages, but people who live in one state and work in another should check both states' rules on residency and credits.
What else to know about Massachusetts taxes
A 4% surtax applies to income above $1,107,750 (2026), making the top rate 9%.
Massachusetts has no standard deduction; personal exemptions reduce taxable income instead.
You can deduct up to $2,000 of Social Security and Medicare (and certain retirement) contributions from Massachusetts income; the calculator applies this deduction for one earner.
The Paid Family and Medical Leave employee share is 0.46% of wages up to the Social Security wage base; employers may pay some or all of it.
What this estimate does not include
Tax credits, itemized deductions, other income, overtime, bonuses and post-tax deductions are not included, and actual withholding follows your Form W-4 and Massachusetts's own withholding rules. Use it as a planning estimate. For the method and the federal rules, see the main paycheck calculator.