2026 State Take-Home Comparison
Maine vs Massachusetts Take-Home Pay (2026)
Moving from Maine to Massachusetts: paycheck difference after taxes
On a $75,000 salary, moving from Maine to Massachusetts means earning $158 less per year after taxes — about $6 less per biweekly paycheck. Federal income tax and FICA stay the same; the difference comes from state tax.
What changes: State income tax. What stays the same: Federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) are the same in every state for the same salary and filing status. Estimates based on $75,000 salary, single, biweekly. Use the calculator below for your numbers.
Maine vs Massachusetts — Take-Home Pay Overview
Maine uses a progressive state income tax with multiple brackets, while Massachusetts uses a progressive state income tax with multiple brackets.
For workers comparing the two states, that means Massachusetts generally leaves more paycheck income after withholding than Maine under the same salary assumptions.
| Salary | Maine Take-Home | Massachusetts Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,550 | $39,955 |
| $75,000 | $58,100 | $57,943 |
| $100,000 | $73,925 | $74,280 |
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $355 more per year in Massachusetts than in Maine.
$100,000 Salary: Maine vs Massachusetts
| Tax / Component | Maine | Massachusetts | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | same |
| State Income Tax | $5,255 | $4,900 | +$355 |
| Social Security | $6,200 | $6,200 | same |
| Medicare | $1,450 | $1,450 | same |
| Take-Home Pay | $73,925 | $74,280 | -$355 |
$100,000 — Rent affordability: Maine vs Massachusetts
| Metric | Maine | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|
| Net take-home / year | $73,925 | $74,280 |
| Net take-home / month | $6,160 | $6,190 |
| Median 1BR rent (HUD) | $950 | $1,450 |
| Rent as % of take-home | 15.4% ✓ | 23.4% ✓ |
Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2025 · Spending: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2023
$75,000 Salary: Maine vs Massachusetts
| Tax / Component | Maine | Massachusetts | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | $7,670 | $7,670 | same |
| State Income Tax | $3,492 | $3,650 | -$158 |
| Social Security | $4,650 | $4,650 | same |
| Medicare | $1,088 | $1,088 | same |
| Take-Home Pay | $58,100 | $57,943 | +$158 |
Take-Home Pay Comparison: Maine vs Massachusetts
For a single filer at $100,000, Massachusetts puts $354.73 more per year in your pocket than Maine — $30 per month.
| Annual Salary | Maine | Massachusetts | Annual Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,550.48 | $39,955 | +$595.48 (Maine) |
| $75,000 | $58,100.48 | $57,942.5 | +$157.98 (Maine) |
| $100,000 | $73,925.27 | $74,280 | $-354.73 (Maine) |
| $125,000 | $89,661.27 | $90,553.5 | $-892.23 (Maine) |
| $150,000 | $104,961.27 | $106,391 | $-1,429.73 (Maine) |
After subtracting median 1-bedroom rent, Massachusetts residents keep $51,480 per year vs $58,325.27 in Maine. See full cost-adjusted ranking →
Calculate your exact Maine vs Massachusetts take-home →Calculation assumptions
- Standard withholding per IRS Publication 15-T (2026)
- Social Security wage base: $184,500 (SSA 2026)
- No pre-tax deductions, no post-tax deductions
- Filing status: Single, one job
- Standard W-4 withholding (no additional withholding elections)
- Actual paycheck may differ based on employer setup, benefits, or W-4 elections
Calculate your take-home pay in each state:
Calculate your exact take-home pay
- Use the Maine paycheck calculator →
- Use the Massachusetts paycheck calculator →
- Compare custom salaries interactively →