Best States for Take-Home Pay After Taxes (2026)
Your gross salary doesn’t tell the full story. This guide compares the best U.S. states for take-home pay by showing how state income taxes affect what you actually keep.
On this page: Quick takeaway · Compare tool · Paycheck by state · $100k rankings · State tax comparison · How taxes affect take-home · FAQs
Moving to a no-tax state? Useful next steps
Whether you're comparing a job offer or planning a relocation, two things tend to follow: filing taxes correctly and making your extra take-home pay work harder.
TurboTax↗ — handles relocation, part-year state returns, and W-2 filing
FreeTaxUSA↗ — free federal filing, low-cost state return for W-2 workers
SoFi↗ — high-yield savings to put your extra $4,195–$12,794/year to work
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Need a head-to-head comparison for the salary you enter? Try the state take-home pay comparison tool.
Quick takeaway: States with no state income tax (like Texas, Florida, and Washington) usually deliver the highest take-home pay for the same gross salary. High-tax states (like California and New York) often reduce net pay the most.
Compare take-home pay in 2–3 states (2026)
Enter one salary, then compare estimated annual take-home pay side-by-side. This uses the same standardized logic as our state calculators (federal income tax + employee FICA + modeled state items).
Estimates only. Single filer assumptions (same as the page). Includes employee FICA; excludes most local taxes and personal deductions.
Paycheck calculator by state
Want to estimate your paycheck after taxes for a specific state? Use our hourly paycheck tax calculator for federal estimates, or jump directly to a state calculator:
- Texas paycheck calculator
- Florida paycheck calculator
- California hourly paycheck calculator
- Washington take-home pay calculator
Browse all state calculators for your state.
Hourly Paycheck Tax Calculator
Estimate your hourly take-home pay after taxes (federal + payroll). For state income tax, use your state calculator.
This ranking is based on how federal, state, and payroll taxes combine to reduce gross income. For a broader comparison, see our take-home pay by state guide .
Want the full picture across all 50 states? Start with our take-home pay by state guide, then see how federal, state, and payroll taxes combine on a typical paycheck.
Best states for $100k salary take-home pay after taxes (2026)
On a $100,000 salary, where you live determines how much you keep. Here's the full ranking for a single filer, standard deduction, 2026 rates:
| Group / State | $100k Take-Home | vs Texas | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas / Florida | ~$79,180 | Baseline | Validated federal + FICA baseline; no individual wage income tax |
| Other no-wage-tax states* | ~$79,180 before state-specific payroll/local items | Near baseline | AK, NV, NH, SD, TN and WY |
| Washington | ~$77,793 | −$1,387 | Includes standard employee Paid Leave + WA Cares premiums |
| Arizona (approx.) | ~$77,083 | −$2,097 | Simplified state-rate scenario |
| Colorado (approx.) | ~$75,488 | −$3,692 | Simplified state-rate scenario |
| New York (outside NYC) | ~$74,320 | −$4,860 | NYC residents would be lower because city tax applies |
| California | ~$72,151 | −$7,029 | Validated CA PIT withholding + SDI baseline |
Single filer, standard deduction, 2026 federal tax + employee FICA. Dedicated state models include selected state payroll items; local taxes and personal deductions are not generally included. For your exact $100k take-home by state, use the state comparison tool — enter $100,000 and compare any two or three states side by side.
State income tax rates compared (2026)
How much state income tax reduces your paycheck depends on the rate structure. Here's how major states compare:
| State | 2026 wage-tax structure | $75k Take-Home | Difference vs Texas | Calculator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | No individual wage income tax | ~$61,592 | Baseline | Calculate |
| Florida | No individual wage income tax | ~$61,592 | Same baseline | Calculate |
| Washington | No wage income tax; employee state payroll programs may apply | ~$60,552 | ~−$1,040 | Calculate |
| Arizona | 2.5% flat income tax (simplified estimate here) | ~$60,120 | ~−$1,472 | State hub estimate |
| Colorado | 4.4% flat income tax (simplified estimate here) | ~$59,000 | ~−$2,592 | State hub estimate |
| New York | 3.9–10.9% progressive state tax; NYC tax may also apply | ~$58,140 outside NYC | ~−$3,452 | Calculate |
| California | Progressive PIT; this site models EDD withholding + 1.3% SDI | ~$57,397 | ~−$4,195 | Calculate |
Estimates for single filer, $75k gross, standard deduction, 2026 rates. Includes employee FICA; excludes most local taxes and personal deductions. Use the state calculators for a more detailed estimate.
States with no state income tax (wages)
If your goal is maximizing take-home pay, states with no state income tax on wages are often the first place to look.
For the most accurate comparison, use the same salary and filing assumptions across states.
Best states for remote workers: take-home pay comparison
Remote workers have flexibility to choose where they live. Here's how state taxes affect take-home pay for common remote work salaries:
| Salary | Texas / Florida | Washington | New York (outside NYC) | California | TX vs CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | ~$50,390 | ~$49,558 | ~$47,747 | ~$47,638 | ~+$2,752 |
| $75,000 | ~$61,592 | ~$60,552 | ~$58,140 | ~$57,397 | ~+$4,195 |
| $100,000 | ~$79,180 | ~$77,793 | ~$74,320 | ~$72,151 | ~+$7,029 |
| $120,000 | ~$93,250 | ~$91,585 | ~$87,210 | ~$83,915 | ~+$9,335 |
| $150,000 | ~$113,791 | ~$111,710 | ~$105,981 | ~$100,997 | ~+$12,794 |
Key insight: At $100k, the Texas-versus-California modeled take-home gap is approximately $7,029/year from California PIT + SDI. At $150k, that difference is about $12,794/year — enough to meaningfully affect financial decisions. Estimates only (2026 rates, single filer, standard deduction).
For high earners, the difference between states becomes even more significant. See the best states for high income earners for a detailed breakdown above $150k.
How Taxes Affect Take-Home Pay
Differences in take-home pay across states are largely driven by how taxes are applied. A useful way to compare tax impact is through the effective tax rate.
If this concept is new, start here: What Is an Effective Tax Rate?
Take-home pay rankings provide a national overview, but results can differ significantly depending on local tax rules. For a deeper breakdown, explore our state-by-state take-home pay guide and the detailed explanation of how taxes reduce gross income.
High salaries don’t always mean higher take-home pay. See a detailed breakdown of What you keep in California take-home pay after taxes to understand how state taxes reduce net income.
Looking for Canadian take-home pay comparisons?
Take-home pay varies widely across Canada as well. If you are comparing income across provinces, see our full breakdown: Best provinces for take-home pay in Canada .
Have relocation-specific tax questions?
Part-year returns, dual-state filings, and residency rules can get complicated during a move. For your specific situation:
Ask a Tax Pro↗ — talk to a real CPA about your relocation or dual-state filing
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Best states for take-home pay: FAQs
Which U.S. state has the highest take-home pay?
For wage income under this 2026 baseline, Texas and Florida are among the cleanest high-take-home examples because they have no individual wage income tax. Several other states also lack a broad wage income tax, but state payroll programs and local taxes can make their cash paychecks differ. Washington, for example, has no wage income tax but many covered employees pay Paid Leave and WA Cares premiums.
For six-figure and above incomes, see best states for high income earners — the tax differences compound significantly above $150k.
How much more do you keep in Texas vs California?
At $100,000 under this site's standardized 2026 single-filer baseline, Texas is about $79,180 and California about $72,151, a difference of roughly $7,029/year. The California model includes PIT withholding and 1.3% SDI; actual returns and paychecks vary.
What is the best state for take-home pay on $20/hour?
At $20/hour for 40 hours/week, the baseline estimate is about $685/week in Texas or Florida, about $674/week in Washington with standard employee Paid Leave and WA Cares premiums, and about $657/week in California.
Which states have no income tax?
Nine states currently have no individual state income tax on wage income: Texas, Florida, Washington, Nevada, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska, and New Hampshire. New Hampshire’s former Interest and Dividends Tax was repealed effective January 1, 2025. Separate payroll programs or local taxes can still apply; Washington, for example, has employee Paid Leave and WA Cares premiums.
Does a higher salary always mean higher take-home pay?
Not always. A higher salary in a higher-tax state does not always translate to proportionally higher take-home pay. Under this site's standardized 2026 model, a $100,000 salary in California yields about $72,151 of take-home, versus about $65,110 at an $80,000 salary in Texas. The California salary is $20,000 higher gross but only about $7,041 higher after the modeled federal tax, FICA, California PIT/SDI, and Texas's lack of individual wage income tax. Actual results depend on filing status, credits, deductions, and payroll elections.
Do local taxes affect take-home pay?
Yes, significantly in some areas. New York City residents pay an additional 3.078–3.876% city income tax on top of state tax, reducing take-home pay substantially. Similarly, some Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky cities impose local income taxes. These are not reflected in state-level estimates — use city-specific calculators where available.
What is the best state for remote workers' taxes?
For remote workers, Texas and Florida have the highest take-home in this page's standardized $100,000 paycheck comparison because they have no individual wage income tax and no modeled employee state payroll premiums. Washington also has no wage income tax, but standard Paid Leave and WA Cares premiums reduce modeled take-home slightly. At $100,000, Texas/Florida are about $7,029 above California and $4,860 above upstate New York; Washington is about $5,642 above California. Remote-work sourcing rules can still make income taxable in another state.
Is this financial advice?
No. All estimates are for educational purposes only based on 2026 tax rates. Actual take-home pay depends on filing status, deductions, benefits, local taxes, and individual circumstances. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice. When you're ready to file, TurboTax↗ handles part-year state returns and relocation scenarios automatically.
State calculators: California · California hourly · Texas · Texas hourly · Florida · New York · Washington