How to use the Massachusetts paycheck calculator
- 1 Enter your pay and choose whether it is a yearly salary or an hourly wage (with hours a week).
- 2 Choose how often you are paid and your filing status.
- 3 Enter your children under 17 and your 401(k) contribution.
- 4 Read your take-home pay per paycheck and every deduction.
Worked example
A single Massachusetts worker earning $60,000 a year, paid every two weeks, with 5% to a 401(k). From each $2,307.69 check: $115.38 of 401(k), $179.23 of federal tax, $176.54 of Social Security and Medicare, $97.31 of Massachusetts tax (5% of $50,600 after the $4,400 exemption and $2,000 FICA deduction) and $10.62 of PFML. Take-home pay is $1,728.62.
Getting more from a Massachusetts paycheck
- Check your pay stub against the calculator once a year.
- Raise your 401(k) to cut federal and state tax.
- Update your W-4 after marriage, a child or a raise.
- Check the PFML line: small employers may pay a different share.
Convert hourly pay with the Hourly to Salary Calculator, see your 401(k) growth with the 401(k) Calculator and check bonus withholding with the Bonus Tax Calculator.
Features
5% plus surtax
Flat rate with the 4% millionaire surtax above $1,107,750.
PFML deduction
Employee share of paid family and medical leave.
Exemptions included
Personal, dependent and Social Security deductions.
When to use it
Boston job offers
Compare offers by take-home pay. Convert hourly pay with the Hourly to Salary Calculator.
Moving from New Hampshire
See what changes when you start paying Massachusetts tax.
Retirement saving
See how 401(k) contributions grow with the 401(k) Calculator.
Bonuses
Check bonus withholding with the Bonus Tax Calculator.
Related Pay and Salary tasks
Frequently asked questions
How much is taken out of a Massachusetts paycheck?
On a $60,000 salary paid every two weeks with 5% to a 401(k), about $97 of Massachusetts income tax and $11 of PFML come out of each check, plus $179 of federal tax and $177 of Social Security and Medicare.
What is the Massachusetts income tax rate for 2026?
A flat 5% on most income, plus a 4% surtax on taxable income above $1,107,750 (the threshold rises with inflation each year). Short-term capital gains are taxed at 8.5%.
What is the Massachusetts personal exemption?
$4,400 for single filers, $8,800 for married couples filing jointly and $6,800 for heads of household, plus $1,000 for each dependent. There is no standard deduction.
Can I deduct Social Security and Medicare in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts lets you deduct up to $2,000 of Social Security, Medicare and similar retirement contributions.
What is PFML on my pay stub?
Paid Family and Medical Leave. For employers with 25 or more workers, employees pay 0.46% of wages in 2026 (0.28% medical and 0.18% family), up to the Social Security wage base.
Who pays the 4% surtax?
Only people with Massachusetts taxable income above $1,107,750 in 2026, on the amount above the threshold. Most workers never pay it.
Do New Hampshire residents working in Massachusetts pay MA tax?
Yes, on wages earned in Massachusetts. Days worked from home in New Hampshire are generally not Massachusetts income.
Do 401(k) contributions lower Massachusetts tax?
Yes. Traditional 401(k) contributions are excluded from Massachusetts wages.
Are there local income taxes in Massachusetts?
No. Cities and towns do not tax income.
What is the Massachusetts minimum wage?
$15.00 an hour.
How do I lower my Massachusetts tax?
Contribute more to a traditional 401(k) or 403(b), use pre-tax health and dependent care benefits through your employer, and claim every dependent exemption. Renters can also deduct half of their rent, up to $4,000.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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