Massachusetts Hourly Paycheck Calculator

Massachusetts Payroll Taxes

Typical Massachusetts paychecks include federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, and Massachusetts state income tax. Cities and towns generally do not levy employee local wage/income taxes. You’ll also see MA Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) contributions (employee and, for many employers, employer share). Employers fund Massachusetts unemployment insurance (SUTA), FUTA, workers’ compensation, and required postings. Pretax benefits—401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, and eligible insurance premiums—can reduce taxable wages when plan-eligible.

• Employee (federal): Income tax (IRS W-4), Social Security, Medicare, Additional Medicare for high earners.
• Employee (state): MA income tax withholding (Form M-4 elections) and PFML employee share.
• Local (employee): None on wages in Massachusetts.
• Employer: MA SUTA; FUTA; PFML employer share (where applicable); workers’ compensation.
• Pretax deductions: May lower federal/state taxable wages and, when eligible, FICA.

How Your Massachusetts Paycheck Works

Your net pay equals gross wages (regular, overtime, differentials, tips, bonuses) minus pretax deductions, then minus FICA, federal income tax, Massachusetts state withholding, and PFML contributions. Because there’s no municipal wage tax, there’s no city/town withholding line. The calculator itemizes hours, rates, taxable wages, withholdings, deductions, and final take-home pay.

• Inputs: Hourly rate, hours, overtime, tips, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, deductions.
• Outputs: Line-by-line FICA, federal, MA state, PFML, deductions, and estimated net pay.
• Supplemental wages: Compare flat vs. aggregate federal methods for bonuses/commissions.

Massachusetts Employer SUTA — 10 Years

Replace placeholders with official Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance figures (taxable wage base, experience-rated range, and new-employer rate) before publishing.

Massachusetts Salary Threshold

Massachusetts follows FLSA plus state rules. Exempt status requires passing the duties tests and meeting the salary-basis threshold. Job titles alone do not confer exemption. Confirm statewide minimum wage, tip-credit/service-charge rules, earned sick time, and industry-specific standards when classifying roles and calculating overtime.

Median Household Income — 10 Years

Insert latest U.S. Census/ACS one-year (or five-year) estimates for Massachusetts before publishing.

FICA in Massachusetts

FICA is federal and applies in Massachusetts: employees pay Social Security and Medicare; employers match both. Above a federal threshold, Additional Medicare tax is withheld from employees (no employer match). Eligible pretax benefits (e.g., Section 125 health premiums) may reduce FICA-taxable wages depending on plan rules.

Local Income Taxes

50-word summary: Some U.S. cities levy wage taxes, but Massachusetts generally does not impose municipal income taxes on employees. Withholding occurs at the state level only, alongside FICA and state programs like PFML. Employers may owe separate city business or excise taxes. Verify multistate worksites for potential local taxation.

Illustrative Local Tax Table (verify current rules)

Massachusetts Wage & Hour Laws

• Overtime: Most non-exempt workers earn 1.5× regular rate after 40 hours/week (FLSA baseline; some industries have additional state rules).
• Pay frequency: Regular schedule required (weekly or biweekly) with itemized wage statements.
• Leave programs: Statewide earned sick time and PFML (payroll-funded) apply—verify coverage, accrual, and caps.

Additional Massachusetts Forms

• IRS Form W-4 (federal withholding elections)
• Massachusetts Form M-4 (state withholding elections)
• Form I-9; MA new-hire reporting
• Direct deposit authorization; benefit enrollments (401(k), HSA, FSA, insurance)
• Massachusetts unemployment (employer) registration; required workplace posters

FAQs: Massachusetts Hourly Paycheck Calculator

How do I use the calculator?

Enter hourly rate, hours, overtime, tips, pay frequency, filing status, dependents/credits, and pretax/post-tax deductions. The calculator applies FICA, federal, MA state withholding, and PFML for a detailed line-by-line take-home estimate.

Does Massachusetts deduct local city taxes?

No. MA does not levy municipal wage taxes. Paychecks reflect federal, FICA, state, PFML, and elected deductions only.

Which form controls MA state withholding?

Massachusetts Form M-4. Complete it alongside IRS W-4 and update after life changes (marriage, dependents, multiple jobs).

Why is there a PFML deduction?

PFML is funded via payroll contributions by employees (and often employers) up to annual caps. The calculator includes PFML when Massachusetts is selected.

How to enter overtime, differentials, tips, bonuses?

Use proper multiplier for overtime (typically 1.5× after 40 hours/week). Enter other supplemental wages separately for accurate federal, state, PFML, and FICA calculations.

Why did my paycheck change?

Common reasons: variable hours/tips, overtime, bonuses, updated W-4/M-4, benefits changes, PFML updates, or annual tax table revisions.

Can pretax benefits increase take-home?

Yes. Eligible pretax deductions—401(k)/403(b)/457(b), HSA, FSA, commuter, insurance—reduce taxable wages and may lower tax and FICA.

How are tips treated?

Reported tips are taxable for federal, FICA, and MA state tax. Include all tips to ensure compliance and accurate withholding.

How do multiple jobs affect withholding?

Follow IRS multiple-job W-4 guidance and ensure M-4 reflects your situation. Model each job separately to avoid mis-withholding.

What is Additional Medicare tax?

Applies after exceeding federal threshold. Employer withholds excess; no employer match. Appears with regular Medicare on pay stub.

Are bonuses and commissions taxed differently?

Supplemental wages may use flat federal rate or aggregate with regular wages; MA state and PFML also apply. Enter separately to compare methods.

Can the calculator project annual take-home?

Yes. Multiply weekly hours by 52, add expected overtime/tips/bonuses, and run the estimate with pay frequency and deductions for annual net pay.