What people at every income level from $21,000 to $266,000 will have to pay in taxes this year
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- The IRS released new tax brackets, adjusted for inflation, for 2019.
- The tax brackets apply to income earned in 2019. (Taxes are due on April 15 for income earned in 2018.)
- The federal income-tax ranges have shifted slightly, and the standard deduction will be $12,200 for single filers and $24,400 for married filers.
- We've calculated the tax rate for people in jobs with different average salaries, including fast-food workers and dentists.
It's been over a year since President Donald Trump signed the Republican tax bill into law, overhauling the US tax code. It shifted the ranges for federal income-tax brackets and boosted take-home pay for about 90% of Americans.
Tax Day 2019, when taxes are due for income earned in 2018, the first year under the new tax law, is April 15.
After adjusting for inflation, the IRS released new tax brackets for income earned in 2019. The standard deduction will be $12,200 for single filers and $24,400 for married filers, an increase of $200 and $400, respectively.
To find out how different occupations would fare under the new tax brackets, we started with the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates of the average annual salaries for those occupations. We calculated the tax burden for a single filer using the standard deduction earning that average salary, based on the tax brackets and rates shown in the above graphic. We also found the effective tax rate, or the percent share of the average income owed in taxes, for each of those occupations.
Again, these figures are calculated for federal income taxes only and do not take into account state income taxes, though some states don't tax income at all.
Below, find out what people with jobs in 50 different income levels are likely to pay in taxes this year.
$21,610: Fast-food cooks
Average salary (2017): $21,610
Total federal taxes: $941
Effective federal tax rate: 4.4%
$22,130: Cashiers
Average salary (2017): $22,130
Total federal taxes: $997.48
Effective federal tax rate: 4.5%
$25,280: Waiters and waitresses
Average salary (2017): $25,280
Total federal taxes: $1,375.48
Effective federal tax rate: 5.4%
$26,260: Bartenders
Average salary (2017): $26,260
Total federal taxes: $1,493.08
Effective federal tax rate: 5.7%
$27,480: Taxi drivers and chauffeurs
Average salary (2017): $27,480
Total federal taxes: $1,639.48
Effective federal tax rate: 6%
$30,480: Barbers
Average salary (2017): $30,480
Total federal taxes: $1,999.48
Effective federal tax rate: 6.6%
$31,870: Models
Average salary (2017): $31,870
Total federal taxes: $2,166.28
Effective federal tax rate: 6.8%
$32,570: Butchers and meat cutters
Average salary (2017): $32,570
Total federal taxes: $2,250.28
Effective federal tax rate: 6.9%
$34,760: Animal trainers
Average salary (2017): $34,760
Total federal taxes: $2,513.08
Effective federal tax rate: 7.2%
$38,890: Construction laborers
Average salary (2017): $38,890
Total federal taxes: $3,008.68
Effective federal tax rate: 7.7%
$40,840: Travel agents
Average salary (2017): $40,840
Total federal taxes: $3,242.68
Effective federal tax rate: 7.9%
$44,950: Massage therapists
Average salary (2017): $44,950
Total federal taxes: $3,735.88
Effective federal tax rate: 8.3%
$49,650: Chefs and head cooks
Average salary (2017): $49,650
Total federal taxes: $4,299.88
Effective federal tax rate: 8.7%
$51,550: Reporters and correspondents
Average salary (2017): $51,550
Total federal taxes: $4,527.88
Effective federal tax rate: 8.8%
$51,930: Firefighters
Average salary (2017): $51,930
Total federal taxes: $4,598.88
Effective federal tax rate: 8.9%
$53,910: Paralegals and legal assistants
Average salary (2017): $53,910
Total federal taxes: $5,034.48
Effective federal tax rate: 9.3%
$55,270: Commercial divers
Average salary (2017): $55,270
Total federal taxes: $5,333.68
Effective federal tax rate: 9.7%
$57,910: Electricians
Average salary (2017): $57,910
Total federal taxes: $5,914.48
Effective federal tax rate: 10.2%
$60,760: Librarians
Average salary (2017): $60,760
Total federal taxes: $6,541.48
Effective federal tax rate: 10.8%
$66,220: Human-resources specialists
Average salary (2017): $66,220
Total federal taxes: $7,742.68
Effective federal tax rate: 11.7%
$66,250: Zoologists and wildlife biologists
Average salary (2017): $66,250
Total federal taxes: $7,749.28
Effective federal tax rate: 11.7%
$66,990: Insurance sales agents
Average salary (2017): $66,990
Total federal taxes: $7,912.08
Effective federal tax rate: 11.8%
$67,990: Public-relations specialists
Average salary (2017): $67,990
Total federal taxes: $8,132.08
Effective federal tax rate: 12%
$74,680: Dental hygienists
Average salary (2017): $74,680
Total federal taxes: $9,603.88
Effective federal tax rate: 12.9%
$75,910: Real-estate brokers
Average salary (2017): $75,910
Total federal taxes: $9,874.48
Effective federal tax rate: 13%
$77,920: Accountants and auditors
Average salary (2017): $77,920
Total federal taxes: $10,316.68
Effective federal tax rate: 13.2%
$83,320: Detectives and criminal investigators
Average salary (2017): $83,320
Total federal taxes: $11,504.68
Effective federal tax rate: 13.8%
$87,530: Computer programmers
Average salary (2017): $87,530
Total federal taxes: $12,430.88
Effective federal tax rate: 14.2%
$88,080: Physical therapists
Average salary (2017): $88,080
Total federal taxes: $12,551.88
Effective federal tax rate: 14.3%
$91,790: Civil engineers
Average salary (2017): $91,790
Total federal taxes: $13,368.08
Effective federal tax rate: 14.6%
$92,740: Computer-system analysts
Average salary (2017): $92,740
Total federal taxes: $13,557.08
Effective federal tax rate: 14.6%
$97,440: Securities, commodities, and financial-services sales agents
Average salary (2017): $97,440
Total federal taxes: $14,631.86
Effective federal tax rate: 15%
$99,580: Electrical engineers
Average salary (2017): $99,580
Total federal taxes: $15,145.46
Effective federal tax rate: 15.2%
$101,530: Veterinarians
Average salary (2017): $101,530
Total federal taxes: $15,613.46
Effective federal tax rate: 15.4%
$104,700: Mathematicians
Average salary (2017): $104,700
Total federal taxes: $16,374.26
Effective federal tax rate: 15.6%
$106,950: Sales engineers
Average salary (2017): $106,950
Total federal taxes: $16,914.26
Effective federal tax rate: 15.8%
$107,480: Nurse practitioners
Average salary (2017): $107,480
Total federal taxes: $17,041.46
Effective federal tax rate: 15.9%
$114,850: Actuaries
Average salary (2017): $114,850
Total federal taxes: $18,810.26
Effective federal tax rate: 16.4%
$115,300: Aerospace engineers
Average salary (2017): $115,300
Total federal taxes: $18,918.26
Effective federal tax rate: 16.4%
$119,570: Computer and information research scientists
Average salary (2017): $119,570
Total federal taxes: $19,943.06
Effective federal tax rate: 16.7%
$121,710: Pharmacists
Average salary (2017): $121,710
Total federal taxes: $20,456.66
Effective federal tax rate: 16.8%
$124,140: Personal financial advisers
Average salary (2017): $124,140
Total federal taxes: $21,039.86
Effective federal tax rate: 16.9%
$141,890: Lawyers
Average salary (2017): $141,890
Total federal taxes: $25,299.86
Effective federal tax rate: 17.8%
$145,620: Marketing managers
Average salary (2017): $145,620
Total federal taxes: $26,195.06
Effective federal tax rate: 18%
$161,280: Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Average salary (2017): $161,280
Total federal taxes: $29,953.46
Effective federal tax rate: 18.6%
$174,110: Dentists
Average salary (2017): $174,110
Total federal taxes: $33,127.38
Effective federal tax rate: 19%
$196,050: Chief executives
Average salary (2017): $196,050
Total federal taxes: $40,148.18
Effective federal tax rate: 20.5%
$208,560: Family and general practitioners
Average salary (2017): $208,560
Total federal taxes: $44,151.38
Effective federal tax rate: 21.2%
$229,380: Orthodontists
Average salary (2017): $229,380
Total federal taxes: $51,206.15
Effective federal tax rate: 22.3%
$265,990: Anesthesiologists
Average salary (2017): $265,990
Total federal taxes: $64,019.65
Effective federal tax rate: 24.1%