Take-Home Pay by State: 2026 State-by-State Comparison
The same $100,000 salary produces $76,600 take-home in Texas and only $68,900 in California — a difference of $7,700/year from state income tax alone. This guide shows exactly how much you keep at common salary and hourly levels across the most-compared U.S. states, and explains why state taxes matter more than most people expect.
On this page: Take-home by state table · How state tax works · No-tax states · Hourly workers · Job offers and relocation · FAQs
Take-home pay by state at common salary levels (2026)
Here's what you actually keep after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA at common salary levels across the most-compared states (single filer, standard deduction, 2026 rates):
| State | State Income Tax | $60k Take-Home | $75k Take-Home | $100k Take-Home | $150k Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 0% | ~$47,800 | ~$59,500 | ~$76,600 | ~$109,600 |
| Florida | 0% | ~$47,800 | ~$59,500 | ~$76,600 | ~$109,600 |
| Washington | 0% | ~$47,800 | ~$59,500 | ~$76,600 | ~$109,600 |
| Nevada | 0% | ~$47,800 | ~$59,500 | ~$76,600 | ~$109,600 |
| Arizona | 2.5% flat | ~$46,300 | ~$57,600 | ~$74,100 | ~$105,900 |
| Colorado | 4.4% flat | ~$45,200 | ~$56,200 | ~$72,300 | ~$103,200 |
| Georgia | 5.49% flat | ~$44,500 | ~$55,400 | ~$71,300 | ~$101,400 |
| North Carolina | 4.75% flat | ~$45,000 | ~$55,900 | ~$71,900 | ~$102,500 |
| New York (upstate) | 4–10.9% progressive | ~$43,900 | ~$54,600 | ~$70,000 | ~$100,200 |
| California | 1–13.3% progressive | ~$43,800 | ~$54,800 | ~$68,900 | ~$95,700 |
| Oregon | 4.75–9.9% progressive | ~$43,200 | ~$53,700 | ~$68,100 | ~$95,000 |
| New York City | State + city tax | ~$41,500 | ~$51,600 | ~$65,200 | ~$92,800 |
Estimates only. Single filer, standard deduction, 2026 federal + state rates. FICA included. California column includes SDI (1.1%). NYC column includes NY state + NYC city income tax. For your exact figures, use the state take-home pay comparison tool or your state's dedicated calculator.
How state income tax affects your paycheck
Every paycheck has three layers of deduction that apply regardless of state: federal income tax, Social Security (6.2%), and Medicare (1.45%). State income tax is the fourth layer — and it's the only one that varies by location.
This is why two people earning identical salaries can have very different take-home pay: federal tax and FICA are the same everywhere, but state income tax ranges from 0% to 13.3%.
At $100,000 salary, the federal + FICA deductions are approximately $22,150 regardless of state. State income tax adds:
- $0 in Texas, Florida, Washington (no state tax)
- ~$2,500 in Arizona (2.5% flat)
- ~$5,500 in New York (progressive, upstate)
- ~$6,500 in California (progressive 1–13.3% + SDI)
- ~$9,000 in New York City (state + city tax combined)
For a full explanation of how federal, state, and payroll taxes layer together, see federal vs state vs payroll taxes. To understand why your effective rate is always lower than your top bracket, see effective tax rate explained.
States with no income tax: what you actually keep
Nine U.S. states impose no income tax on wages: Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and New Hampshire (which taxes some investment income but not wages). Workers in these states pay only federal income tax and FICA on every paycheck.
| Salary | No-Tax State Take-Home | vs California | vs New York (upstate) | vs NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | ~$39,800 | +$2,400/yr | +$2,400/yr | +$4,400/yr |
| $75,000 | ~$59,500 | +$4,700/yr | +$4,900/yr | +$7,900/yr |
| $100,000 | ~$76,600 | +$7,700/yr | +$6,600/yr | +$11,400/yr |
| $150,000 | ~$109,600 | +$13,900/yr | +$9,400/yr | +$16,800/yr |
Single filer, standard deduction, 2026 rates. No-tax state = federal + FICA only. California includes SDI. NYC includes NY state + city tax.
The property tax offset
No-tax states like Texas have above-average property taxes — typically 1.6–2.5% of assessed home value per year, compared to California's Proposition 13 cap of approximately 1.1%. On a $400,000 home, this costs approximately $2,000–$5,600 more per year in Texas than California. For renters and workers without significant property, the income tax saving is essentially pure gain. For homeowners at high income levels, the income tax saving still significantly exceeds the property tax cost in most scenarios.
For a full analysis of whether moving to a no-tax state saves money overall, see the Texas take-home pay guide or best states for high income earners.
Take-home pay by state for hourly workers (2026)
State income tax affects hourly workers exactly the same as salaried workers — the same percentage deducted from every paycheck. Here's what hourly workers keep at common wage rates (40 hrs/week, single filer):
| Hourly Rate | Annual Gross | No-Tax State (TX/FL/WA) | California | New York (upstate) | NYC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $15/hour | $31,200 | ~$540/wk | ~$459/wk | ~$462/wk | ~$444/wk |
| $20/hour | $41,600 | ~$700/wk | ~$614/wk | ~$608/wk | ~$582/wk |
| $25/hour | $52,000 | ~$855/wk | ~$763/wk | ~$746/wk | ~$712/wk |
| $30/hour | $62,400 | ~$1,005/wk | ~$893/wk | ~$881/wk | ~$842/wk |
Single filer, standard deduction, 2026 rates. All figures include federal + FICA. State and city tax applied where applicable. For your exact state, use the Texas hourly calculator, California hourly calculator, or Florida hourly calculator.
Comparing job offers and relocation decisions
A salary offer in Texas vs California
If you're deciding between a $90,000 offer in Texas and a $95,000 offer in California, the after-tax comparison changes the decision entirely:
- $90,000 in Texas: approximately $69,600 take-home
- $95,000 in California: approximately $65,400 take-home
- Result: The Texas offer nets approximately $4,200 more per year despite being $5,000 less in gross salary
This is why comparing salaries across states without running the after-tax math can lead to financially worse decisions. The higher headline number doesn't always mean more money in your pocket.
Relocating without a raise
Moving from California to Texas on the same salary is effectively a tax-free raise. At $100,000, you gain approximately $7,700/year in after-tax income without negotiating a single dollar of salary increase. Over 10 years, that's approximately $77,000 in additional take-home pay before any investment returns on the difference.
Use the state take-home pay comparison tool to model your exact salary across any two states before making a relocation decision.
Remote workers choosing a state
For remote workers with location flexibility, the state you choose to live in directly determines your effective take-home pay without any dependence on local job market salaries. Texas, Florida, and Washington are the three most popular destinations for remote workers relocating from California and New York — primarily for the income tax savings.
State take-home pay calculators
- Compare take-home pay by state (side-by-side tool) Enter one salary and compare any 2–3 states instantly
- Best states for take-home pay (ranked) Full state ranking at $50k, $75k, and $100k salary levels
- Texas take-home pay calculator No state income tax — $100k = ~$76,600/yr
- California take-home pay calculator Progressive 1–13.3% state tax — $100k = ~$68,900/yr
- New York take-home pay calculator State + NYC city tax — $100k = ~$65,200 in NYC
- Florida take-home pay calculator No state income tax — same take-home as Texas
- Washington take-home pay calculator No state income tax — Seattle estimates included
- All 50 states paycheck calculators Dedicated calculators for every reviewed state
Filing taxes in a new state?
Relocating or comparing states often means a part-year state return or multi-state filing. These tools handle it automatically:
- TurboTax — handles multi-state returns, relocation-year filings, and W-4 updates
- FreeTaxUSA — free federal filing, low-cost state returns for any state
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Related guides
- Effective tax rate explained Why your effective rate is always lower than your top bracket
- Marginal vs effective tax rate When to use each rate — includes worked examples
- Gross vs net income Full breakdown of every deduction from gross pay to take-home
- Federal vs state vs payroll taxes How the three tax layers combine to determine your total effective rate
- California take-home pay guide Full breakdown of CA state tax, SDI, and how California compares to Texas
- Texas take-home pay guide No state income tax — how much more you keep vs California and New York
Take-home pay by state: FAQs
Why does the same salary result in different take-home pay by state?
Because state income tax rates vary from 0% to 13.3%. Federal income tax and FICA are identical in every state, so the entire take-home pay difference between states comes from state income tax. At $100,000 salary, Texas workers take home approximately $76,600 versus $68,900 in California — a $7,700 difference caused entirely by California's state income tax and SDI.
Which states have the highest take-home pay?
States with no state income tax consistently have the highest take-home pay: Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and New Hampshire (wages exempt). At $100,000 salary, workers in these states take home approximately $76,600 versus $68,900 in California and $70,000 in upstate New York. For a full state ranking, see best states for take-home pay.
Is living in a no-income-tax state always better for take-home pay?
On income taxes alone, yes — always. Texas, Florida, and Washington workers pay zero state income tax, so the income tax saving is real and immediate. Other costs like property taxes and housing may differ, but those don't affect your paycheck directly. For homeowners, Texas property taxes (1.6–2.5% of assessed value) are higher than California's Proposition 13 cap (~1.1%), which can partially offset the income tax saving depending on home value and salary level.
How much does state tax reduce take-home pay?
At $75,000 salary compared to no-tax states: Arizona (2.5% flat) reduces take-home by approximately $1,700/year. Colorado (4.4%) by approximately $3,300/year. New York (upstate) by approximately $4,900/year. California by approximately $4,700/year. At higher incomes, the gaps grow because California and New York use progressive rates that increase with income — at $150,000, California workers keep approximately $13,900 less than Texas workers.
What is the best way to compare job offers across states?
Compare after-tax income using a state-specific take-home pay calculator rather than salary alone. A $90,000 offer in Texas nets approximately $69,600 take-home, while a $95,000 offer in California nets approximately $65,400 — the Texas offer nets $4,200 more despite being $5,000 lower in gross salary. Use the state take-home pay comparison tool to model your exact scenario.
Do state taxes affect hourly workers the same as salaried workers?
Yes. State income tax applies to all wages regardless of pay structure. At $20/hour working full time: Texas and Florida workers take home approximately $700/week; California workers take home approximately $614/week — $86 less per week or $4,472 less per year from state tax alone. Use the California hourly calculator or Texas hourly calculator for exact figures.