Effective vs Marginal Tax Rate

If you're "in the 24% bracket," you do not pay 24% on every dollar you earn. Brackets are marginal — they apply only to income within each range.

A simple example

A single filer earning $100,000 in 2024 pays an effective federal rate of about 17%, even though their top marginal bracket is 22%.

Run your exact numbers with our Salary After Taxes calculator.