上圖是我家對面鄰居的房子。

考慮到口筆譯所受的專業訓練，工作時的辛苦。只拿一般白領階級的4.3萬元，其實薪水並不高。中位數4.3萬美元，折合台幣約126萬元，月入10.5萬台幣。這個收入在美國要付30%以上的稅金(除非能申報扶養子女、親屬)，聯邦稅25%麻州的州稅是6.25%，各州的州稅比率不同，再扣除高額的醫療保險金、失業保險金、公定的小額退休金，停車費或交通費，其實所剩不多。美國的物價比台灣貴2-3倍左右，其實真正的價值還不如台灣年收入40~50萬台幣。每個人都知道，年收入五十萬在雙北市的生活並不算優渥。

我調查過醫療口譯的鐘點費是20~40美元，跟一般白領階級上班族的鐘點費差不多，但翻譯人員不大可能每天工作8小時，每周工作五天/40小時，就算真找到這樣的工作，體力腦力也會受不了。加上口筆譯所受的長期專業訓練，工作時所需的專注力，我會說，這樣的收入是偏低的。乍看之下，126萬的年收入似乎很高，但細算下來，就會發現其實一點都不高。

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2013年最新稅率英文版 

http://taxes.about.com/od/Federal-Income-Taxes/qt/Tax-Rates-For-The-2013-Tax-Year.htm

Single Filing Status

[Tax Rate Schedule X, Internal Revenue Code section 1(c)]

• 10% on taxable income from $0 to $8,925, plus
• 15% on taxable income over $8,925 to $36,250, plus
• 25% on taxable income over $36,250 to $87,850, plus
• 28% on taxable income over $87,850 to $183,250, plus
• 33% on taxable income over $183,250 to $398,350, plus
• 35% on taxable income over $398,350 to $400,000, plus
• 39.6% on taxable income over $400,000.

Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Widow(er) Filing Status

[Tax Rate Schedule Y-1, Internal Revenue Code section 1(a)]

• 10% on taxable income from $0 to $17,850, plus
• 15% on taxable income over $17,850 to $72,500, plus
• 25% on taxable income over $72,500 to $146,400, plus
• 28% on taxable income over $146,400 to $223,050, plus
• 33% on taxable income over $223,050 to $398,350, plus
• 35% on taxable income over $398,350 to $450,000, plus
• 39.6% on taxable income over $450,000.

Married Filing Separately Filing Status

[Tax Rate Schedule Y-2, Internal Revenue Code section 1(d)]

• 10% on taxable income from $0 to $8,925, plus
• 15% on taxable income over $8,925 to $36,250, plus
• 25% on taxable income over $36,250 to $73,200, plus
• 28% on taxable income over $73,200 to $111,525, plus
• 33% on taxable income over $111,525 to $199,175, plus
• 35% on taxable income over $199,175 to $225,000, plus
• 39.6% on taxable income over $225,000.