> Marginal is well over 50% in NYC, CA. eg top bracket marginal is 37% federal + 12.3% CA state
The top tax rate is actually 13.3% state, but even the 12.3% kicks in at over $590k for a single taxpayer, well above the 99th percentile individual income for the state, which means it's very much not normal for people to pay that much.
For comparison, the highest marginal income tax bracket in Norway is 46.4%, which applies from $100,000 per year.
On top of this is 25% VAT on all purchases, 32% capital gains tax and 0.85% of net worth (with conplex deductions; 75% for primary home and 40% for stocks) each year.
Employer pays 14% of your salary in tax, as well as 22% on all profits before owners pay capital gains on dividends on the remaining.
The top tax rate is actually 13.3% state, but even the 12.3% kicks in at over $590k for a single taxpayer, well above the 99th percentile individual income for the state, which means it's very much not normal for people to pay that much.