how earnings in the stock market get taxed?

[ninasgramma]

First of all, the worst that can happen is that your net gain from investment in most stocks is taxed at your tax rate.

Long-term capital gains: maximum 15%
Most stock dividends: maximum 15%
Short-term capital gains: maximum your tax bracket

No social security or medicare tax is paid on investment income.

You pay taxes only when your investments generate income for you. This means your investments pay you interest or dividends, or you sell you invesments for more than you pay for them.

If your investments increase in value and you do not sell them, you do not pay tax on the increase in value.

If your state has income tax, you will also pay state income tax on your investment income. States differ as to how they tax investment income.