Working full time at $18 an hour ($37,440 a year) in Massachusetts, a single filer takes home about $30,611 a year, $2,551 a month or $14.72 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,652 Massachusetts income tax.
#49 of 51for take-home at this pay
Where the money goes
Breakdown
| Yearly | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $37,440 | $3,120 |
| Federal income tax | $2,313 | $193 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | $2,321 | $193 |
| Medicare | $543 | $45 |
| Massachusetts income tax | $1,652 | $138 |
| Take-home | $30,611 | $2,551 |
| Federal marginal rate | 12% | |
| Massachusetts marginal rate | 5.00% |
Same pay in other states
Highest take-home at this pay: Alaska. Middle: Idaho. Lowest: Oregon.
Your tax bracket at this pay
Your federal taxable income is about $21,340 (after the $16,100 standard deduction), which puts the top slice of your pay in the 12% bracket ($12,400 to $50,400). You have about $29,060 of room before the next dollar is taxed at 22%. Only that top slice is taxed at 12%: your average federal rate is 6.2%, and all taxes together (federal, FICA, state) take 18.2% of gross pay. A $1,000 raise would add about $754 to your take-home.
| Federal bracket | Your income in it | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 10% on $0–$12,400 | $12,400 | $1,240 |
| 12% on $12,400–$50,400 | $8,940 | $1,073 |
| Rate | Federal | Combined with state and FICA |
|---|---|---|
| Marginal (next dollar) | 12% | 24.6% |
| Effective (average) | 6.2% | 18.2% |
Compared with the Massachusetts median
$37,440 is 36% of the Massachusetts median household income of $103,960 (Census ACS 2020–2024 median; households can have more than one earner, so a single salary is not directly comparable).
Affordability snapshot
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Rent budget (30% of gross) | $936/mo |
| Home price at 30% of gross (10% down) | $126,000 |
| Massachusetts median home value | $562,100 (Census 2020–2024) |
Rule of thumb only: housing at 30% of gross monthly pay. Home price assumes a 30-year fixed at the Freddie Mac average of 7.40% (week of 2026-10-15), 10% down, the Massachusetts median effective property tax rate and about 0.35% a year for insurance. Lenders also weigh debts, credit and PMI.
401(k) and HSA effect
| Contribution | Saved | Take-home cut | Tax saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6% to a 401(k) ($2,246/yr) | $2,246 | $1,864 | $382 |
| Max HSA, self-only ($4,400, via payroll) | $4,400 | $3,315 | $1,085 |
Pre-tax 401(k) deferrals cut federal and Massachusetts income tax but not Social Security or Medicare; payroll HSA contributions also skip FICA. 2026 limits: 401(k) $24,500 (under 50), HSA $4,400 self-only (IRS). Some states tax HSA contributions; this estimate assumes they follow federal rules.
What applies at this income
- You are under the 2026 Roth IRA income limit for single filers ($153,000 of modified AGI), so you can contribute the full amount.
- Maxing out a 401(k) ($24,500) would take more than half your gross pay at this level, so most people here contribute a percentage instead.
Massachusetts jobs that typically pay about $37,440
$37,440 is above the median pay of 8 of the 99 common occupations we track in Massachusetts (BLS OEWS, May 2025). These have a Massachusetts median between $36,400 and $38,480:
| Occupation | Massachusetts median | vs this pay |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Salespersons | $36,610 | −$830 |
| Dishwashers | $37,190 | −$250 |
| Bartenders | $37,440 | +$0 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,540 | +$100 |
| Waiters and Waitresses | $38,460 | +$1,020 |
Where $37,440 lands inside other Massachusetts jobs
For 2 of these occupations, $37,440 is what experienced or top earners make (75th–90th percentile); for 8, it is entry-level pay (10th–25th percentile).
| Occupation | Percentile | Massachusetts pay at that percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 25th | $37,050 |
| Childcare Workers | 25th | $37,330 |
| Hand Packers and Packagers | 75th | $37,360 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 10th | $37,380 |
| Driver/Sales Workers | 25th | $37,430 |
| Cashiers | 75th | $37,500 |
| Janitors and Cleaners | 25th | $37,560 |
| Security Guards | 25th | $37,720 |
| Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers | 10th | $37,800 |
| Preschool Teachers | 25th | $37,820 |
Previous and next pay level
Related
- $16 an hour in Massachusetts$2,290/mo
- $17 an hour in Massachusetts$2,420/mo
- $19 an hour in Massachusetts$2,682/mo
- $20 an hour in Massachusetts$2,812/mo
- Massachusetts income tax brackets2026
- Minimum wage in Massachusetts2026
- Massachusetts property taxby county
Single filer, W-2 wages only; 2026 IRS brackets and $16,100 standard deduction, FICA (Social Security to $184,500, Medicare +0.9% over $200,000) and state rules per the Tax Foundation (Jan 1, 2026). Local taxes and payroll deductions are excluded. Sources: IRS, SSA, Tax Foundation. Not tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $18 an hour after taxes in Massachusetts?
Working full time at $18 an hour ($37,440 a year) in Massachusetts, a single filer takes home about $30,611 a year, $2,551 a month or $14.72 an hour, after federal tax, FICA and $1,652 Massachusetts income tax.
How much is $18 an hour per month after taxes in Massachusetts?
About $2,551 a month, or $1,177 per biweekly paycheck.
How much state tax do I pay on $18 an hour in Massachusetts?
About $1,652 a year (marginal rate 5.00%).