Study · 2026 tax rules
Take-home pay by state: the same $50,000 salary, 51 different paychecks
We ran a $50,000 salary through our 2026 paycheck calculator for every state and Washington, DC. The gap between the best and worst state is $3,895 a year, about $325 a month.
$50,000 $75,000 $100,000 $150,000
9 states tie or nearly tie at the top because they have no state income tax on wages: Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming, Alaska, Washington. Some of them still take a small payroll deduction, such as Washington’s paid leave and long-term care programs.
| Rank | State | Take-home pay | State income tax | Other state and local | Less than #1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 1 | Nevada | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 1 | New Hampshire | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 1 | North Dakota | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 1 | South Dakota | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 1 | Tennessee | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 1 | Texas | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 1 | Wyoming | $42,355 | $0 | $0 | |
| 9 | Alaska | $42,105 | $0 | $250 | -$250 |
| 10 | Washington | $41,660 | $0 | $695 | -$695 |
| 11 | Arizona | $41,314 | $1,041 | $0 | -$1,041 |
| 12 | Louisiana | $41,241 | $1,114 | $0 | -$1,114 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $41,171 | $1,184 | $0 | -$1,184 |
| 14 | Vermont | $41,114 | $1,241 | $0 | -$1,241 |
| 15 | Iowa | $41,107 | $1,248 | $0 | -$1,248 |
| 16 | Mississippi | $41,087 | $1,268 | $0 | -$1,268 |
| 17 | Utah | $41,071 | $1,284 | $0 | -$1,284 |
| 18 | Nebraska | $40,960 | $1,395 | $0 | -$1,395 |
| 19 | Missouri | $40,942 | $1,413 | $0 | -$1,413 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $40,936 | $1,419 | $0 | -$1,419 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $40,869 | $1,486 | $0 | -$1,486 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $40,834 | $1,521 | $0 | -$1,521 |
| 23 | Idaho | $40,813 | $1,542 | $0 | -$1,542 |
| 24 | Connecticut | $40,780 | $1,325 | $250 | -$1,575 |
| 25 | Montana | $40,762 | $1,593 | $0 | -$1,593 |
| 25 | Ohio incl. 2% local | $40,762 | $593 | $1,000 | -$1,593 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $40,739 | $1,215 | $400 | -$1,616 |
| 28 | California | $40,656 | $1,049 | $650 | -$1,699 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $40,650 | $1,704 | $0 | -$1,705 |
| 30 | Colorado | $40,643 | $1,492 | $220 | -$1,712 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $40,618 | $1,737 | $0 | -$1,737 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $40,547 | $1,258 | $550 | -$1,808 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $40,521 | $1,834 | $0 | -$1,834 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $40,512 | $1,843 | $0 | -$1,843 |
| 35 | Michigan | $40,481 | $1,874 | $0 | -$1,874 |
| 36 | Georgia | $40,383 | $1,972 | $0 | -$1,972 |
| 37 | Kansas | $40,365 | $1,990 | $0 | -$1,990 |
| 38 | Virginia | $40,294 | $2,061 | $0 | -$2,061 |
| 39 | Pennsylvania incl. 1% local | $40,285 | $1,535 | $535 | -$2,070 |
| 40 | Minnesota | $40,258 | $1,877 | $220 | -$2,097 |
| 41 | Delaware | $40,257 | $2,098 | $0 | -$2,098 |
| 42 | Indiana incl. 1.5% local | $40,160 | $1,446 | $750 | -$2,195 |
| 43 | Alabama | $40,120 | $2,235 | $0 | -$2,235 |
| 44 | Illinois | $40,025 | $2,330 | $0 | -$2,330 |
| 45 | New York | $40,005 | $2,103 | $247 | -$2,350 |
| 46 | Kentucky incl. 1.5% local | $39,973 | $1,632 | $750 | -$2,382 |
| 47 | Maine | $39,912 | $2,193 | $250 | -$2,443 |
| 48 | Massachusetts | $39,845 | $2,280 | $230 | -$2,510 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $39,821 | $2,284 | $250 | -$2,534 |
| 50 | Maryland incl. 3.2% local | $38,744 | $2,011 | $1,600 | -$3,611 |
| 51 | Oregon | $38,460 | $3,545 | $350 | -$3,895 |
How we calculated it
Every figure comes from the same 2026 tax math as our paycheck calculator: a single filer, paid every two weeks, with no 401(k), health premiums or other pre-tax deductions. We subtract federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and any state payroll deductions such as paid family leave. Where a state has a local income tax almost everyone pays, we include the same typical rate the calculator prefills (marked "incl. local" above); your county or city may differ.
Your own number will differ if you are married, have children, contribute to a 401(k) or live in a city with its own wage tax. Compare two states for your exact situation.
Use this data
Journalists and bloggers are welcome to cite these figures with a link to this page. Download every state at every salary (CSV). Want it on your site? Embed the two-state comparison tool.
Frequently asked questions
Which state has the highest take-home pay on $50,000?
Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wyoming tie at about $42,355 a year, because none of them tax wages or take a state payroll deduction at this salary.
Which state has the lowest take-home pay on $50,000?
Oregon, at about $38,460 a year, $3,895 less than the top state.
Does this include local taxes?
Only where a local income tax is near-universal (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland), using a typical rate. City taxes like New York City’s are not included.