Data Journalism Study · 2026
Salary Gap by State 2026 — Take-Home Pay Spread at $50K, $75K, and $100K
On the same gross salary, where you live changes how much you keep — not by average tax-rate percentages, but by exact dollars. At $100,000, the spread between the highest- and lowest-take-home jurisdiction is $8,017 per year ($668 per month). All figures below are engine-computed at build time for all 51 jurisdictions.
Take-home gap summary by salary level
Each row shows the dollar spread between the best- and worst-ranked jurisdiction at that salary anchor. Rankings use identical assumptions across every state.
$50,000 salary — ranked take-home pay (2026)
Spread: $3,642 between Alaska ($42,355) and Oregon ($38,713). Browse all $50,000 salary pages →
| 1 | Alaska | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 2 | Florida | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 3 | Nevada | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 6 | South Dakota | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 7 | Tennessee | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 8 | Texas | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 9 | Vermont | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $42,355 | $3,530 | 15.3% | $0 |
| 11 | Washington | $41,951 | $3,496 | 16.1% | $404 |
| 12 | Ohio | $41,696 | $3,475 | 16.6% | $659 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $41,454 | $3,455 | 17.1% | $901 |
| 14 | Arizona | $41,355 | $3,446 | 17.3% | $1,000 |
| 15 | Louisiana | $41,208 | $3,434 | 17.6% | $1,147 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $41,206 | $3,434 | 17.6% | $1,149 |
| 17 | Virginia | $41,128 | $3,427 | 17.7% | $1,228 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $41,081 | $3,423 | 17.8% | $1,274 |
| 19 | Connecticut | $41,030 | $3,419 | 17.9% | $1,325 |
| 20 | Missouri | $40,951 | $3,413 | 18.1% | $1,404 |
| 21 | Iowa | $40,949 | $3,412 | 18.1% | $1,406 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $40,911 | $3,409 | 18.2% | $1,444 |
| 23 | Indiana | $40,910 | $3,409 | 18.2% | $1,446 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $40,900 | $3,408 | 18.2% | $1,455 |
| 25 | North Carolina | $40,821 | $3,402 | 18.4% | $1,534 |
| 26 | Pennsylvania | $40,820 | $3,402 | 18.4% | $1,535 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $40,780 | $3,398 | 18.4% | $1,575 |
| 28 | Montana | $40,743 | $3,395 | 18.5% | $1,612 |
| 29 | Kentucky | $40,723 | $3,394 | 18.6% | $1,632 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $40,613 | $3,384 | 18.8% | $1,742 |
| 31 | Georgia | $40,609 | $3,384 | 18.8% | $1,747 |
| 32 | Nebraska | $40,569 | $3,381 | 18.9% | $1,786 |
| 33 | Maine | $40,550 | $3,379 | 18.9% | $1,805 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $40,521 | $3,377 | 19.0% | $1,834 |
| 35 | Idaho | $40,509 | $3,376 | 19.0% | $1,846 |
| 36 | Colorado | $40,397 | $3,366 | 19.2% | $1,958 |
| 37 | California | $40,393 | $3,366 | 19.2% | $1,962 |
| 38 | Kansas | $40,353 | $3,363 | 19.3% | $2,002 |
| 39 | Maryland | $40,299 | $3,358 | 19.4% | $2,057 |
| 40 | Michigan | $40,230 | $3,353 | 19.5% | $2,125 |
| 41 | Delaware | $40,147 | $3,346 | 19.7% | $2,208 |
| 42 | Utah | $40,130 | $3,344 | 19.7% | $2,225 |
| 43 | Alabama | $40,095 | $3,341 | 19.8% | $2,260 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $40,011 | $3,334 | 20.0% | $2,344 |
| 45 | New York | $39,994 | $3,333 | 20.0% | $2,361 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $39,985 | $3,332 | 20.0% | $2,370 |
| 47 | Massachusetts | $39,955 | $3,330 | 20.1% | $2,400 |
| 48 | Rhode Island | $39,930 | $3,328 | 20.1% | $2,425 |
| 49 | Illinois | $39,880 | $3,323 | 20.2% | $2,475 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $39,755 | $3,313 | 20.5% | $2,600 |
| 51 | Oregon | $38,713 | $3,226 | 22.6% | $3,642 |
$75,000 salary — ranked take-home pay (2026)
Spread: $5,830 between Alaska ($61,593) and Oregon ($55,763). Browse all $75,000 salary pages →
| 1 | Alaska | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 2 | Florida | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 3 | Nevada | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 7 | Texas | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 8 | Vermont | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $61,593 | $5,133 | 17.9% | $0 |
| 10 | North Dakota | $61,255 | $5,105 | 18.3% | $338 |
| 11 | Washington | $60,987 | $5,082 | 18.7% | $605 |
| 12 | Ohio | $60,246 | $5,021 | 19.7% | $1,346 |
| 13 | Arizona | $60,093 | $5,008 | 19.9% | $1,500 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $59,673 | $4,973 | 20.4% | $1,920 |
| 15 | Arkansas | $59,519 | $4,960 | 20.6% | $2,074 |
| 16 | Indiana | $59,410 | $4,951 | 20.8% | $2,183 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $59,367 | $4,947 | 20.8% | $2,226 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $59,331 | $4,944 | 20.9% | $2,262 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $59,290 | $4,941 | 20.9% | $2,303 |
| 20 | Iowa | $59,237 | $4,936 | 21.0% | $2,356 |
| 21 | Kentucky | $59,085 | $4,924 | 21.2% | $2,507 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $59,047 | $4,921 | 21.3% | $2,546 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $59,045 | $4,920 | 21.3% | $2,548 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $59,043 | $4,920 | 21.3% | $2,550 |
| 25 | Missouri | $58,993 | $4,916 | 21.3% | $2,600 |
| 26 | Virginia | $58,928 | $4,911 | 21.4% | $2,665 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $58,912 | $4,909 | 21.5% | $2,680 |
| 28 | Montana | $58,707 | $4,892 | 21.7% | $2,886 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $58,707 | $4,892 | 21.7% | $2,886 |
| 30 | Nebraska | $58,687 | $4,891 | 21.8% | $2,906 |
| 31 | Georgia | $58,599 | $4,883 | 21.9% | $2,994 |
| 32 | Colorado | $58,535 | $4,878 | 22.0% | $3,058 |
| 33 | Idaho | $58,421 | $4,868 | 22.1% | $3,172 |
| 34 | New Jersey | $58,413 | $4,868 | 22.1% | $3,180 |
| 35 | Michigan | $58,405 | $4,867 | 22.1% | $3,188 |
| 36 | Maryland | $58,349 | $4,862 | 22.2% | $3,244 |
| 37 | Utah | $58,255 | $4,855 | 22.3% | $3,338 |
| 38 | Kansas | $58,213 | $4,851 | 22.4% | $3,380 |
| 39 | District of Columbia | $58,164 | $4,847 | 22.4% | $3,429 |
| 40 | Maine | $58,100 | $4,842 | 22.5% | $3,492 |
| 41 | Alabama | $58,083 | $4,840 | 22.6% | $3,510 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $57,955 | $4,830 | 22.7% | $3,638 |
| 43 | Massachusetts | $57,943 | $4,829 | 22.7% | $3,650 |
| 44 | Illinois | $57,880 | $4,823 | 22.8% | $3,713 |
| 45 | Delaware | $57,874 | $4,823 | 22.8% | $3,719 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $57,749 | $4,812 | 23.0% | $3,844 |
| 47 | New York | $57,749 | $4,812 | 23.0% | $3,844 |
| 48 | California | $57,397 | $4,783 | 23.5% | $4,195 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $57,332 | $4,778 | 23.6% | $4,260 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $57,303 | $4,775 | 23.6% | $4,290 |
| 51 | Oregon | $55,763 | $4,647 | 25.6% | $5,830 |
$100,000 salary — ranked take-home pay (2026)
Spread: $8,017 between Alaska ($79,180) and Oregon ($71,163). Browse all $100,000 salary pages →
| 1 | Alaska | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 2 | Florida | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 3 | Nevada | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 5 | South Dakota | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 7 | Texas | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 8 | Vermont | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 9 | Wyoming | $79,180 | $6,598 | 20.8% | $0 |
| 10 | Washington | $78,373 | $6,531 | 21.6% | $807 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $78,348 | $6,529 | 21.7% | $832 |
| 12 | Arizona | $77,180 | $6,432 | 22.8% | $2,000 |
| 13 | Ohio | $77,146 | $6,429 | 22.9% | $2,034 |
| 14 | Louisiana | $76,488 | $6,374 | 23.5% | $2,692 |
| 15 | Indiana | $76,260 | $6,355 | 23.7% | $2,921 |
| 16 | Arkansas | $76,181 | $6,348 | 23.8% | $2,999 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $76,110 | $6,343 | 23.9% | $3,070 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $75,904 | $6,325 | 24.1% | $3,276 |
| 19 | Iowa | $75,874 | $6,323 | 24.1% | $3,306 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $75,798 | $6,316 | 24.2% | $3,382 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | $75,629 | $6,302 | 24.4% | $3,551 |
| 22 | North Carolina | $75,618 | $6,302 | 24.4% | $3,562 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $75,489 | $6,291 | 24.5% | $3,691 |
| 24 | Missouri | $75,410 | $6,284 | 24.6% | $3,770 |
| 25 | New Mexico | $75,275 | $6,273 | 24.7% | $3,905 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $75,255 | $6,271 | 24.7% | $3,925 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $75,176 | $6,265 | 24.8% | $4,004 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $75,125 | $6,260 | 24.9% | $4,055 |
| 29 | Virginia | $75,078 | $6,256 | 24.9% | $4,103 |
| 30 | Colorado | $75,022 | $6,252 | 25.0% | $4,158 |
| 31 | Georgia | $74,939 | $6,245 | 25.1% | $4,242 |
| 32 | Michigan | $74,930 | $6,244 | 25.1% | $4,250 |
| 33 | Montana | $74,864 | $6,239 | 25.1% | $4,316 |
| 34 | Maryland | $74,749 | $6,229 | 25.3% | $4,432 |
| 35 | Utah | $74,730 | $6,228 | 25.3% | $4,450 |
| 36 | Idaho | $74,682 | $6,224 | 25.3% | $4,498 |
| 37 | Alabama | $74,420 | $6,202 | 25.6% | $4,760 |
| 38 | Kansas | $74,396 | $6,200 | 25.6% | $4,784 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $74,280 | $6,190 | 25.7% | $4,900 |
| 40 | New Jersey | $74,275 | $6,190 | 25.7% | $4,905 |
| 41 | Illinois | $74,230 | $6,186 | 25.8% | $4,950 |
| 42 | Rhode Island | $74,151 | $6,179 | 25.8% | $5,030 |
| 43 | Maine | $73,925 | $6,160 | 26.1% | $5,255 |
| 44 | South Carolina | $73,836 | $6,153 | 26.2% | $5,344 |
| 45 | Delaware | $73,811 | $6,151 | 26.2% | $5,369 |
| 46 | New York | $73,796 | $6,150 | 26.2% | $5,384 |
| 47 | District of Columbia | $73,649 | $6,137 | 26.4% | $5,532 |
| 48 | Minnesota | $73,174 | $6,098 | 26.8% | $6,006 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $73,020 | $6,085 | 27.0% | $6,160 |
| 50 | California | $72,151 | $6,013 | 27.8% | $7,029 |
| 51 | Oregon | $71,163 | $5,930 | 28.8% | $8,017 |
Key findings
- The interstate take-home gap widens as gross pay rises: $3,642 at $50K → $8,017 at $100K in this model.
- Dollar gaps reflect real withholding — federal brackets, FICA, and state income tax combined — not simplified effective-rate averages.
- Use the linked salary calculators or state calculators to rerun any row with your filing status and deductions.
See also
$50K after tax in all states → · $75K after tax in all states → · $100K after tax in all states → · Best states for take-home pay → · Remote worker tax savings →
Methodology
- Calculated using ExactTakeHome's engine with 2026 IRS Publication 15-T federal withholding tables and SSA FICA wage bases.
- State income tax from each jurisdiction's Department of Revenue 2026 withholding tables (see data sources).
- Single filer, biweekly pay, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions.
- All 51 jurisdiction figures generated at build time — no hardcoded tax values.
- Read the full methodology →
Cite This Study
APA:
ExactTakeHome Team. (2026). Salary Gap by State 2026 — Take-Home Pay Spread at $50K, $75K, and $100K. ExactTakeHome.
https://exacttakehome.com/research/salary-gap-by-state-2026/
BibTeX:
@misc{exacttakehome2026salarygapbystate,
title = {Salary Gap by State 2026 — Take-Home Pay Spread at $50K, $75K, and $100K},
author = {{ExactTakeHome Team}},
year = {2026},
url = {https://exacttakehome.com/research/salary-gap-by-state-2026/},
note = {Engine-computed take-home pay dataset for 51 US jurisdictions}
}Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary gap between states on a $100,000 salary?
On a $100,000 salary, take-home pay ranges from $79,180 in Alaska to $71,163 in Oregon — a $8,017 annual gap under identical single-filer withholding assumptions.
Does the state salary gap widen at higher incomes?
Yes. The spread grows from $3,642 at $50,000 to $5,830 at $75,000 and $8,017 at $100,000 in this 2026 engine model.
How are these take-home figures calculated?
Every figure is computed at build time by the ExactTakeHome engine using 2026 IRS Publication 15-T federal withholding, SSA FICA limits, and state Department of Revenue tables. Assumptions: single filer, biweekly pay, standard W-4, no pre-tax deductions.
Why use exact take-home dollars instead of average tax rates?
Average effective rates hide payroll withholding details that change net pay. Exact engine-computed take-home dollars reflect federal brackets, FICA, and state withholding together — the number that actually lands in a paycheck.