Massachusetts Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Estimate your Massachusetts take-home pay after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Massachusetts state tax.
Massachusetts income tax in 2026
Massachusetts taxes wages at a flat 5%. A 4% surtax applies only to taxable income above about $1.1 million, which most workers never reach.
Massachusetts uses personal exemptions instead of a standard deduction: $4,400 for single filers and $8,800 for married filing jointly. Pre-tax 401(k) contributions are excluded from Massachusetts income. There is no local income tax.
Example take-home pay in Massachusetts
Single filer, no 401(k), paid every 2 weeks:
Massachusetts income tax brackets for 2026
These are the rates applied to your Massachusetts taxable income, which is your pay after the deductions and exemptions described above.
| Single filers | Rate | Married filing jointly | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over $0 | 5% | Over $0 | 5% |
Massachusetts take-home pay at different salaries
Estimated yearly figures for a single filer with no 401(k), using the same rules as the calculator above.
| Salary | Federal tax | Social Security + Medicare | Massachusetts taxes | Take-home / year | Every 2 weeks | Total tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $1,280 | $25,005 | $962 | 16.7% |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $2,280 | $40,075 | $1,541 | 19.9% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,530 | $58,063 | $2,233 | 22.6% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,780 | $74,400 | $2,862 | 25.6% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $7,280 | $106,511 | $4,097 | 29% |
How to keep more of your paycheck in Massachusetts
On a $60,000 salary, putting 5% ($3,000) into a traditional 401(k) reduces your yearly take-home pay by about $2,490 (roughly $96 less every 2 weeks). That is less than the full $3,000 because the contribution saves about $360 in federal income tax and about $150 in Massachusetts tax. The tax you avoid stays in your pocket instead of going to the government.
Filing status also matters. A married couple filing jointly with one $60,000 income takes home about $50,010 a year in Massachusetts, compared with $47,610 for a single filer, mostly because of the larger standard deduction and wider tax brackets.
How this calculator works
We subtract your 401(k) contribution and the 2026 standard deduction ($16,100 single, $32,200 married filing jointly), then apply the 2026 federal brackets (IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32). Social Security is 6.2% up to $184,500 of pay, and Medicare is 1.45% (plus 0.9% on high pay). The Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave deduction is not included in this estimate.
Massachusetts paycheck questions
What is the Massachusetts income tax rate?
5% on most income, including wages. Short-term capital gains are taxed at 8.5%, and a 4% surtax applies above roughly $1.1 million.
Is there a standard deduction in Massachusetts?
No. Massachusetts gives a personal exemption of $4,400 for single filers and $8,800 for joint filers.
Do 401(k) contributions reduce Massachusetts tax?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) elective deferrals are excluded from Massachusetts gross income, to the same extent as for federal tax.
Rates last updated: October 2026. This is an estimate and does not include credits, benefits or W-4 changes. Official source: Massachusetts Department of Revenue.