State Comparison · 2026
Take-Home Pay by State: Which States Keep More of Your Money? (2026)
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Where you live can change the state-tax line on your paycheck. The table below compares a $75,000 annual salary for a single filer paid biweekly across 10 states using the calculator's modeled withholding scope.
Scope note: Results for limited-support states reflect the modeled scope. See each state page for documented limitations.
Ranked Take-Home Pay Comparison
| State | Net annual | Net biweekly | State tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $61,593 | $2,369 | $0 |
| Nevada | $61,593 | $2,369 | $0 |
| South Dakota | $61,593 | $2,369 | $0 |
| Texas | $61,593 | $2,369 | $0 |
| Washington | $61,593 | $2,369 | $0 |
| New Jersey | $58,728 | $2,259 | $2,865 |
| New York | $58,073 | $2,234 | $3,520 |
| California | $57,397 | $2,208 | $4,195 |
| Minnesota | $57,303 | $2,204 | $4,290 |
| Oregon | $55,763 | $2,145 | $5,830 |
No-Income-Tax States
States without personal income-tax withholding on wages often rank near the top of a paycheck comparison because there is no state-income-tax line. That does not measure every cost of living, service, or tax consideration.
States With Modeled Income-Tax Withholding
States with income-tax withholding may rank lower in this paycheck comparison. A relocation decision is broader than payroll withholding: housing, insurance, local taxes, transportation, and public services also matter.
Run the calculator with your own salary and state.
Calculate for your state →How state tax shapes net pay
Take-home pay is gross wages minus all paycheck deductions — federal income tax, FICA, state income tax, local wage tax where applicable, and post-tax items like Roth contributions or garnishments. Among these, state income tax is the largest variable when comparing the same salary across states.
The best states for take-home pay study ranks all 51 jurisdictions at multiple salary levels using the same engine assumptions: single filer, biweekly pay, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions unless noted.
No-income-tax cluster
Nine states do not withhold wage income tax. Workers there still pay federal taxes and FICA. See no income tax states for the full list and links to state calculators.
High-tax states and cities
California, Oregon, Hawaii, New York, and New Jersey often show lower take-home on identical salaries. City wage taxes in NYC, Philadelphia, and several Ohio cities add another withholding layer. Use city salary guides when local tax applies.
Compare two states directly
The compare hub links popular pairs such as California vs Texas and New York vs Florida. Each page shows side-by-side federal, state, FICA, and net figures for a benchmark salary.
Quick state calculator links
- Texas · California · New York
- Florida · Illinois · Pennsylvania
Effective rate vs take-home dollars
Effective tax rate is total taxes divided by gross wages. Take-home dollars matter more for budgeting — a 25% effective rate on $50,000 leaves $37,500 net, while 25% on $150,000 leaves $112,500. Rankings by take-home dollars and rankings by effective rate can order states differently at different salaries.
Data methodology
ExactTakeHome computes take-home using IRS Publication 15-T and official state employer withholding schedules encoded in methodology documentation. Figures assume W-2 wage income, not self-employment or capital gains.
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Researchers and journalists can cite engine tables with attribution. Each calculator page runs client-side — salary inputs are not transmitted to servers during calculation.
Using ExactTakeHome for your situation
Every example in this guide uses engine-computed withholding from official 2026 tax tables — IRS Publication 15-T for federal income tax and state employer withholding schedules where state income tax applies. Open the paycheck calculator, select your state, enter your annual salary or hourly equivalent, and adjust filing status, pay frequency, and pre-tax deductions to match your pay stub inputs.
Salary band pages at /salary/ provide quick benchmarks at common amounts. Hourly routes at /hourly/ convert hourly rates to annual gross using 2,080 full-time hours. City guides at /city-salary/ add local wage tax when your work city levies one. Compare pairs at /compare/ when evaluating two states side by side.
Figures here are estimates for planning — not tax advice. Payroll rounding, mid-year law changes, and employer-specific benefit elections can shift your actual stub by small amounts. Consult a qualified tax professional for filing decisions and complex multi-state situations.
Pay frequency reminder
Annual salary and hourly annual equivalents assume steady income across the year. Bonuses, commissions, and mid-year raises change withholding because payroll systems annualize current wages when applying tables. After a raise, expect a few paychecks at blended withholding until year-to-date wages fully reflect the new rate.
Semi-monthly pay (24 checks per year) and biweekly pay (26 checks) produce different per-check gross amounts for the same annual salary. Withholding tables account for frequency — always select your actual pay schedule in the calculator when comparing to your stub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the highest take-home pay?
Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington tie for the highest take-home pay in this modeled $75,000 salary comparison because each has no state personal income-tax withholding on wages.
How much more do you take home in Texas vs California on $75,000?
For this modeled single-filer scenario, Texas take-home pay is approximately $4,195 higher per year than California take-home pay.
Does moving states change your federal tax?
Federal income-tax withholding and FICA follow federal rules. State and local withholding can change when you move.
Figures and methods are based on official-source data encoded in the calculator. Not tax advice. Review the methodology and consult a qualified professional for your situation.
| State | Annual Take-Home | Per Paycheck | Effective Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| Florida No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| Nevada No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| New Hampshire No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| South Dakota No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| Tennessee No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| Texas No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| Vermont | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| Wyoming No income tax | $61,593 | $2,369 | 17.9% |
| North Dakota | $61,255 | $2,356 | 18.3% |
| Washington No income tax | $60,987 | $2,346 | 18.7% |
| Ohio | $60,246 | $2,317 | 19.7% |
| Arizona | $60,093 | $2,311 | 19.9% |
| Louisiana | $59,673 | $2,295 | 20.4% |
| Arkansas | $59,519 | $2,289 | 20.6% |
| Indiana | $59,410 | $2,285 | 20.8% |
| Wisconsin | $59,367 | $2,283 | 20.8% |
| Mississippi | $59,331 | $2,282 | 20.9% |
| Pennsylvania | $59,290 | $2,280 | 20.9% |
| Iowa | $59,237 | $2,278 | 21.0% |
| Kentucky | $59,085 | $2,273 | 21.2% |
| West Virginia | $59,047 | $2,271 | 21.3% |
| North Carolina | $59,045 | $2,271 | 21.3% |
| Connecticut | $59,043 | $2,271 | 21.3% |
| Missouri | $58,993 | $2,269 | 21.3% |
| Virginia | $58,928 | $2,266 | 21.4% |
| New Mexico | $58,912 | $2,266 | 21.4% |
| Montana | $58,707 | $2,258 | 21.7% |
| Oklahoma | $58,707 | $2,258 | 21.7% |
| Nebraska | $58,687 | $2,257 | 21.8% |
| Georgia | $58,599 | $2,254 | 21.9% |
| Colorado | $58,535 | $2,251 | 21.9% |
| Idaho | $58,421 | $2,247 | 22.1% |
| New Jersey | $58,413 | $2,247 | 22.1% |
| Michigan | $58,405 | $2,246 | 22.1% |
| Maryland | $58,349 | $2,244 | 22.2% |
| Utah | $58,255 | $2,241 | 22.3% |
| Kansas | $58,213 | $2,239 | 22.4% |
| District of Columbia | $58,164 | $2,237 | 22.4% |
| Maine | $58,100 | $2,235 | 22.5% |
| Alabama | $58,083 | $2,234 | 22.6% |
| Rhode Island | $57,955 | $2,229 | 22.7% |
| Massachusetts | $57,943 | $2,229 | 22.7% |
| Illinois | $57,880 | $2,226 | 22.8% |
| Delaware | $57,874 | $2,226 | 22.8% |
| South Carolina | $57,749 | $2,221 | 23.0% |
| New York | $57,749 | $2,221 | 23.0% |
| California | $57,397 | $2,208 | 23.5% |
| Hawaii | $57,332 | $2,205 | 23.6% |
| Minnesota | $57,303 | $2,204 | 23.6% |
| Oregon | $55,763 | $2,145 | 25.6% |
Data sources: IRS Publication 15-T (2026) · Social Security Administration (wage base: $184,500)
Last verified: by ExactTakeHome Team
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