First of all, find out where AnnieOakly says you can make $80k as a new grad nurse, and apply there!
It's actually not too difficult to approximate how much federal tax you will owe. It's estimated about 70% of taxpayers will take the standard deduction of $12,000 for single people (or $24,000 for married).
Let's say you make $65,000 a year. After the standard deduction, your taxable income is $53,000. Based on the new tax brackets (Here'''s how your tax bracket will change in 218) you'll owe:
10% of your first $9525 of income, which come to $952.
12% of your income between $9526 and $38,7000, which comes to $3500.
22% of your income from $38,701 to $53,000 (or up to $82,500), which comes to $3145.
952+3500+3145 = $7597. This is the amount you'll owe (about $3k less then before the new tax law), just for FEDERAL INCOME TAX. You'll have 26 paychecks in a year, so that comes to $292 a paycheck. Look on your paystub. If you are paying less, then you'll owe when you file taxes. If you are paying more, you'll get a refund.
Keep in mind, you'll still have SS tax, medicare tax, state and local taxes. SS and medicare come out of you paycheck. Nothing to owe or get a refund on at the end of the year. State and local taxes very quite a bit depending where you live. You may owe or get a refund on those.
If you get health insurance through your work, or a 401k or other retirement fund, your taxable income (the $53,000) will be less. If you have children, you will also get a tax break. If your deductions come to more then $12,000, then you will also owe a bit less.
Kudos to you for educating yourself about these matters now,. Over the years your knowledge will continue to grow. It'll benefit you in the long run.
I also feel strongly that if people paid more attention to what they are actually paying total in taxes, rather then measuring it once year in how much MORE they owe how how much they are getting back, we would hold our politicians more accountable for what they spend our money on.
