Tax jurisdiction · United States
Massachusetts athlete tax: what a pro athlete really pays
Massachusetts takes 9% of a top-end athlete salary, which is $900,000 on a $10M contract. That ranks 22 of 66 jurisdictions we track. Against a no-tax state the same deal is worth $900,000 less.
Massachusetts tax at each contract size
| Contract | Massachusetts tax | Effective rate | Left before federal tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | $90,000 | 9% | $910,000 |
| $5,000,000 | $450,000 | 9% | $4,550,000 |
| $10,000,000 | $900,000 | 9% | $9,100,000 |
| $25,000,000 | $2,250,000 | 9% | $22,750,000 |
These figures are the state bill alone. Federal tax, FICA, agent fees and league deductions all come off the remainder.
Teams in Massachusetts
5 teams play in Massachusetts:
- Boston Celtics · NBA
- New England Patriots · NFL
- Boston Red Sox · MLB
- Boston Bruins · NHL
- Massachusetts (MA) · NCAA
Each team page runs a full contract through the federal brackets, Massachusetts's state tax, agent fees and league deductions to give a take-home figure.
How Massachusetts compares
| Benchmark | Top rate | On a $10M contract | Difference vs Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 9% | $900,000 | — |
| Texas (no income tax) | 0% | $0 | +$900,000 |
| California (highest US state) | 13.3% | $1,330,000 | -$430,000 |
Signed from Massachusetts's point of view: a positive number is what Massachusetts takes that the benchmark does not.
The jock tax in Massachusetts
Every state with an income tax taxes visiting athletes on duty days worked inside its borders. Massachusetts is no exception. A player who lives elsewhere owes Massachusetts only on the share of the season spent here, calculated by counting practice and game days.
The reverse is the bigger number. A Massachusetts resident owes Massachusetts on the entire salary no matter where the games are played, which is why residency — not team location — drives most of the planning.
Frequently asked
How much state tax does a $10M athlete salary pay in Massachusetts?
$900,000 at the 9% top marginal rate. Our model applies the top rate to the whole salary, which overstates the bill slightly and therefore understates take-home pay.
Do away games change what an athlete owes Massachusetts?
If the player is a Massachusetts resident, the state taxes the full salary regardless of where games are played. Non-residents owe Massachusetts only on duty days worked here, which is the jock tax.