How Massachusetts taxes your paycheck in 2026
Massachusetts uses graduated brackets running from 5% up to 9%. On top of that, every Massachusetts worker pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security (on the first $184,500 of 2026 wages) and 1.45% Medicare with no cap. This calculator applies all of it at once, so the take-home figure is the real one.
Massachusetts income tax brackets, 2026
Applied to taxable income — that is, your wages after the Massachusetts standard deduction and personal exemption. Single filer figures shown.
| Rate | Taxable income (single) |
|---|---|
| 5% | $0 – $1,083,150 |
| 9% | $1,083,150 and above |
Standard deduction: none · Personal exemption: $4,400 single / $8,800 married.
What Massachusetts state tax costs at different salaries
Single filer, Massachusetts state income tax only — federal tax and FICA are on top of these figures.
| Annual salary | Massachusetts income tax | Effective rate | State premiums |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $2,280 | 4.56% | $230 |
| $75,000 | $3,530 | 4.71% | $345 |
| $100,000 | $4,780 | 4.78% | $460 |
| $150,000 | $7,280 | 4.85% | $690 |
Massachusetts payroll deductions beyond income tax
Massachusetts employees also pay these premiums directly from each paycheck — separate from income tax, and often missed by federal-only calculators.
| Program | Employee rate | 2026 wage base |
|---|---|---|
| MA Paid Family & Medical Leave | 0.46% | First $184,500 of wages |
How Massachusetts compares with neighbouring states
State income tax owed by a single filer on a $75,000 salary — Massachusetts against the states around it:
| State | Tax on $75,000 | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | No income tax | 0% |
| Rhode Island | $2,196 | 2.93% |
| Connecticut | $2,550 | 3.40% |
| New York | $3,453 | 4.60% |
| Massachusetts (this state) | $3,530 | 4.71% |
Massachusetts ranks highest of these 5 at that salary, costing about $3,530 a year more than New Hampshire. Where you physically work usually decides which state withholds, so a short commute across a border can change your take-home meaningfully.
Why your effective Massachusetts rate isn't 9%
On a $75,000 salary the headline rate is 9%, but the real bite is about 4.71%. Two things cause the gap. First, the brackets are marginal — only income inside each band is taxed at that band's rate. Second, Massachusetts shelters the first $4,400 of income before any tax applies.
Worth noting: Massachusetts's $4,400 of shelter is well below the federal standard deduction of $16,100, so you pay Massachusetts tax on roughly $11,700 more income than you pay federal tax on — about $1,053 a year in extra state tax at the top rate.
No local income tax in Massachusetts. No city or county levies its own income tax, so the figure above is your complete state and local income tax picture.
Federal taxes on top
Every Massachusetts worker also pays federal income tax plus 6.2% Social Security and 1.45% Medicare. Those rules are identical in all 50 states — see the main paycheck calculator for how FICA, the wage base, pre-tax deductions and FICA-exempt occupations work.
Nearby states
Compare Massachusetts with New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York — or see the full list of all 50 states and DC.