Take-home pay by state

How it works

Each state's 2026 withholding formula runs on the same salary and filing status, paid biweekly, with a standard W-4, the state form's default exemptions, no pre-tax deductions, and no local taxes. Federal withholding follows IRS Publication 15-T, and Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%) are the same in every row. The ranking sorts by yearly take-home pay.

Seven states with no wage income tax and no employee payroll premiums tie at the top: Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming. Alaska and Washington also have no income tax but sit just below them, because Alaska withholds 0.5% for unemployment insurance and Washington about 0.81% for paid leave plus 0.58% for long-term care. North Dakota's low withholding puts it among them at lower salaries.

Oregon withholds 4.75% to 9.9% plus a 0.1% transit tax and a 0.6% Paid Leave Oregon premium, which keeps it at the bottom at the default salary. Cost of living is outside this ranking, so a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can still go further. Each state name links to its own calculator with the full formula and sources.

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest take-home pay?

Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wyoming tie for the highest take-home pay on the same salary. None taxes wages and none withholds an employee payroll premium, so you keep everything left after federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare. Alaska and Washington follow closely; both skip income tax but withhold small payroll premiums.

Which state has the lowest take-home pay?

At the default $60,000 single salary, Oregon ranks last. Its withholding runs from 4.75% to 9.9%, and paychecks also carry a 0.1% statewide transit tax and a 0.6% Paid Leave Oregon premium. The rest of the bottom group shifts with salary and filing status, so change the inputs above to see where your state lands at your own pay.

Do states with no income tax take anything out of paychecks?

Seven of the nine take nothing at the state level. Washington withholds about 0.81% of wages for paid family and medical leave, up to $184,500, and 0.58% for the WA Cares long-term care fund with no cap. Alaska withholds 0.5% for unemployment insurance on the first $54,200. Federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare still apply in every state.

Why is federal tax the same in every state?

Federal withholding depends on your pay, filing status, and W-4, never on where you live. IRS Publication 15-T applies one set of 2026 tables nationwide, and Social Security (6.2% up to $184,500) and Medicare (1.45%) are flat. Every row in the table carries the same federal amounts, so the differences you see come only from state income tax and state payroll premiums.

Does this ranking include local or city taxes?

No. Local wage taxes depend on the city, county, or school district, so the table leaves them out to keep states comparable. They matter in places such as New York City, Ohio cities, Pennsylvania municipalities, and Maryland counties. Open a state's calculator from the table to add its local tax and see the full take-home figure for where you live or work.