How to compare take-home pay by state
- 1 Enter your pay, choose salary or hourly, your pay frequency and filing status.
- 2 Add your children under 17 and 401(k) contribution.
- 3 Pick two or three states, or choose All 40 states, ranked.
- 4 Choose whether to include typical local taxes, then read the difference per paycheck and per year.
Worked example
A single worker earning $75,000, paid every two weeks, with 5% to a 401(k). Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare come to the same amount in every state. Take-home pay is $58,667.50 a year in Texas or Florida, $55,327.38 in California and $55,061.80 in New York, so Texas leaves $3,340.12 a year more than California.
Using a state comparison well
- Rank all states with your own salary: the order changes with income.
- Turn local taxes off to compare state tax alone.
- Check sales and property taxes before you move.
- Open the state's own calculator to enter your exact city or county rate.
See one state in detail with the Texas Paycheck Calculator, the California Paycheck Calculator, the New York Paycheck Calculator and work out the raise you need with the Pay Raise Calculator.
Features
40 states
Every state with its own paycheck calculator here.
Side by side or ranked
Compare picks or see the full list.
Local taxes optional
Typical county and city taxes on or off.
When to use it
Job offers in two states
See which offer leaves more money after tax. Then open the state's own paycheck calculator for details.
Moving for work
Check how much a move from California or New York to Texas or Florida changes your pay..
Remote work
Compare where you could live on the same salary.
Salary negotiation
Work out the raise you would need to break even in a higher-tax state with the Pay Raise Calculator.
Related Pay and Salary tasks
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the highest take-home pay?
The states with no tax on wages: Texas, Florida, Nevada, Tennessee, Wyoming, South Dakota and New Hampshire leave the same, highest take-home pay. Washington and Alaska have no income tax but small payroll premiums.
Which state has the lowest take-home pay?
At middle incomes, states with high income tax plus local taxes come last, such as Maryland with its county tax, New York, Minnesota, Massachusetts and California. The order changes with income and filing status, so rank all states with your own pay.
How much more do you keep in Texas than California?
On a $75,000 salary for a single filer with 5% to a 401(k), about $3,340 a year more in Texas, or roughly $128 every two weeks, because California charges income tax and 1.3% SDI.
Why is federal tax the same in every state?
Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare depend on your pay, filing status, 401(k) and children, not where you live. Only state and local taxes change.
What are typical local taxes?
With this option on, the calculator adds Maryland's common 3.2% county tax, Indiana's 2.02% (Marion County), a 2.5% Ohio city tax and a 1% Pennsylvania local tax. Turn it off to compare state taxes only, or use each state's own calculator to enter your exact local rate.
Does this include sales and property taxes?
No. It compares paychecks only. A state with no income tax may charge higher sales or property taxes, so look at your total cost of living as well.
Which states are missing?
Connecticut, Oregon, Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota, Hawaii, Maine, Delaware, Rhode Island and Vermont, plus Washington DC. They will be added once their 2026 figures are confirmed from official sources.
Where do I pay tax if I live in one state and work in another?
Usually your work state taxes the wages and your home state gives a credit, unless the states have a reciprocity agreement. This calculator assumes you live and work in the same state.
Is this my exact paycheck?
It is a close estimate built on each state's 2026 rules. Employers use official withholding tables, and deductions such as health insurance change your check.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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