All 50 states ranked by take-home pay
Ranked highest to lowest net pay on a $75,000 gross salary. Federal income tax and FICA are identical in every row, so the ranking is decided entirely by state income tax.
| # | State | Rate range | State tax | Take-home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 2 | Florida | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 3 | Nevada | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 5 | South Dakota | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 6 | Tennessee | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 7 | Texas | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 8 | Washington | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 9 | Wyoming | 0% | $0 | $61,593 |
| 10 | North Dakota | 1.95%–2.5% | $203 | $61,389 |
| 11 | Ohio | 2.75% | $1,280 | $60,312 |
| 12 | Arizona | 2.5% | $1,473 | $60,120 |
| 13 | Louisiana | 3% | $1,864 | $59,729 |
| 14 | Indiana | 2.95% | $2,183 | $59,410 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | 3.75%–5.99% | $2,196 | $59,397 |
| 16 | Iowa | 3.8% | $2,238 | $59,354 |
| 17 | Mississippi | 4% | $2,268 | $59,325 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | 3.07% | $2,303 | $59,290 |
| 19 | New Mexico | 1.5%–5.9% | $2,359 | $59,233 |
| 20 | North Carolina | 3.99% | $2,484 | $59,109 |
| 21 | Vermont | 3.35%–8.75% | $2,490 | $59,103 |
| 22 | Kentucky | 3.5% | $2,507 | $59,085 |
| 23 | Connecticut | 2%–6.99% | $2,550 | $59,043 |
| 24 | Missouri | 2%–4.7% | $2,588 | $59,005 |
| 25 | Colorado | 4.4% | $2,592 | $59,001 |
| 26 | New Jersey | 1.4%–10.75% | $2,598 | $58,995 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | 3.5%–7.65% | $2,632 | $58,961 |
| 28 | Utah | 4.5% | $2,651 | $58,942 |
| 29 | West Virginia | 2.22%–4.82% | $2,680 | $58,912 |
| 30 | Nebraska | 2.46%–4.55% | $2,709 | $58,884 |
| 31 | Arkansas | 2%–3.9% | $2,741 | $58,851 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | 2.5%–4.5% | $2,830 | $58,763 |
| 33 | Idaho | 5.3% | $2,867 | $58,726 |
| 34 | Montana | 4.7%–5.65% | $2,877 | $58,716 |
| 35 | South Carolina | 3%–6% | $2,878 | $58,715 |
| 36 | California | 1%–13.3% | $2,928 | $58,665 |
| 37 | Michigan | 4.25% | $2,937 | $58,656 |
| 38 | Georgia | 5.19% | $3,270 | $58,323 |
| 39 | Maine | 5.8%–7.15% | $3,358 | $58,235 |
| 40 | Kansas | 5.2%–5.58% | $3,385 | $58,207 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | 4%–10.75% | $3,429 | $58,164 |
| 42 | New York | 3.9%–10.9% | $3,453 | $58,140 |
| 43 | Alabama | 2%–5% | $3,485 | $58,108 |
| 44 | Virginia | 2%–5.75% | $3,498 | $58,094 |
| 45 | Massachusetts | 5%–9% | $3,530 | $58,063 |
| 46 | Illinois | 4.95% | $3,568 | $58,025 |
| 47 | Minnesota | 5.35%–9.85% | $3,577 | $58,016 |
| 48 | Delaware | 2.2%–6.6% | $3,719 | $57,874 |
| 49 | Hawaii | 1.4%–11% | $4,170 | $57,423 |
| 50 | Maryland | 2%–6.5% | $5,599 | $55,994 |
| 51 | Oregon | 4.75%–9.9% | $5,989 | $55,604 |
Maryland includes county income tax at the statewide average. Figures exclude city taxes such as New York City and Philadelphia, and state disability contributions such as California SDI. See the methodology.
Why the gap is so wide
Nine states levy no income tax on wages at all: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. At the other end, California reaches 13.3%, Hawaii 11% and New York 10.9% before New York City's own surcharge.
The spread on a $75,000 salary is $5,989 a year, roughly $499 a month, for identical work and identical federal tax. It widens as income rises, because most state systems are progressive while the no-tax states stay at zero however much you earn.
Before treating the top of the table as free money, price the offset. Texas property taxes average 1.47% of assessed value, among the highest in the country, and Tennessee has the highest average combined sales tax. For renters and lower earners the no-tax states usually come out ahead; for homeowners the arithmetic is much closer. Read the full comparison on the main calculator page.
Flat rate, graduated, or nothing at all
The 51 jurisdictions split into three groups, and which one your state belongs to matters more than its headline rate:
- No tax on wages (9 states). Nothing is withheld at state level, whatever you earn.
- Flat rate (16 states). One rate applies to every dollar above the state's deduction. Pennsylvania charges 3.07% with no deduction at all, so a low earner there pays a higher share than in most graduated states. Ohio joined this group in 2026.
- Graduated (26 states and DC). Rates climb in bands, so the headline top rate is misleading. California's 13.3% sounds punishing but only bites above $1 million; a typical Californian pays an effective 4% to 6%.
This is why comparing top rates tells you almost nothing. The table above compares what actually lands in the bank, which is the only figure that answers the question.
What changed for 2026
Eight states cut individual income tax rates on 1 January 2026. Indiana dropped its flat rate to 2.95%, Kentucky to 3.5%, Mississippi to 4.0% and North Carolina to 3.99%. Nebraska cut its top rate to 4.55%, Montana restructured to 4.7% and 5.65%, and Oklahoma consolidated six brackets into three. Ohio completed its move to a flat 2.75% above $26,050.
New York also reduced the rates in its five lowest brackets, from 4% to 3.9% at the bottom. Maryland went the other way, adding two new upper brackets at 6.25% and 6.5%. Every figure on this site reflects those changes; see our methodology and sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the highest take-home pay?
On a $75,000 salary the nine states with no income tax all tie at $61,593 a year: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Federal tax and FICA are identical everywhere, so nothing separates them at the paycheck level.
Which state takes the most income tax from a paycheck?
At $75,000 the lowest take-home is Oregon at $55,604 a year, $5,989 less than a no-income-tax state. At much higher incomes California overtakes it, because California's top rate of 13.3% only applies above $1 million.
How much more do you keep in a state with no income tax?
On $75,000 the gap is $5,989 a year, or about $499 a month. The gap widens with income because most state systems are progressive. Before treating it as a pay rise, weigh property tax, which averages 1.47% of home value in Texas, and sales tax, which exceeds 9% in Tennessee and Washington.
Do these figures include city and county taxes?
Only Maryland, where county income tax is unavoidable and applied here at the 3.2% statewide average. New York City, Yonkers, Philadelphia, Detroit, Columbus, Ohio school districts and Indiana counties levy their own income tax that is not included. State disability contributions such as California SDI and New Jersey SUI are excluded too. Our methodology page lists every exclusion.
Which state should I move to for the highest pay?
Take-home pay is one input, not the answer. The 9 no-income-tax states recover revenue through property and sales tax, so renters and lower earners usually gain more than homeowners do. Run your own salary through the calculator on any state page, then subtract realistic housing costs before deciding.
Or start from a wage instead of a state
If you know the number on the offer rather than the state you will live in, these pages work the other way round: pick the figure and see all 51 jurisdictions ranked.