Life salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A life earns a median of $62,280 a year ($29.94 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $66,280. About 73,910 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $62,280
- Gross pay
- $2,395.38
- Federal income tax
- −$203.60
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$148.51
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$34.73
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $2,008.54
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $62,280
- Federal
- $5,294
- FICA
- $4,764
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $52,222
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Similar jobs
- Social Science Research Assistant: $61,990
- Occupational Health and Safety Technician: $61,560
- Chemical Technician: $60,390
- Hydrologic Technician: $64,790
- Biological Technician: $57,510
- Animal Scientist: $68,940
- Survey Researcher: $69,460
- Environmental Science and Protection Technician: $55,090
BLS occupation: Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 19-4099). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a life make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $29.94; the average is $31.86.
What is the salary range for a life?
The bottom 10% earn under $39,000 and the top 10% earn over $102,690 a year.
How much is $62,280 after taxes?
About $52,222 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $49,636 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.