By Marcus Feldman · Reviewed by Diane Whitaker, CFP® · Updated July 2026 · 11-minute read
A $100,000 salary in Wyoming buys a materially different life than $100,000 in California, and it's not just cost of living. State income tax, local income tax, property tax, and sales tax all affect how much of your gross pay you actually get to keep and spend. This guide ranks all 50 states plus DC by real take-home pay for a $100,000 single filer in 2026.
These states have no state income tax at all:
But zero income tax doesn't automatically mean lower total tax burden. Texas, for example, has some of the highest property taxes in the country (2.0%+ effective rate). Washington has one of the highest sales tax rates (~9% combined). The rankings below account for these tradeoffs.
| Rank | State | Take-home | Effective tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $77,900 | 22.1% | No income tax, low property tax |
| 2 | South Dakota | $77,700 | 22.3% | No income tax, moderate sales tax |
| 3 | Tennessee | $77,500 | 22.5% | No income tax, high sales tax |
| 4 | Nevada | $77,300 | 22.7% | No income tax, sales tax offsets some |
| 5 | Alaska | $77,000 | 23.0% | PFD dividend adds ~$1,600/yr |
| 6 | Florida | $76,800 | 23.2% | No income tax, rising insurance costs |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $76,700 | 23.3% | Very high property tax offsets some |
| 8 | Texas | $76,500 | 23.5% | Highest property tax nationally |
| 9 | Washington | $76,300 | 23.7% | Highest combined sales tax |
| 10 | North Dakota | $74,900 | 25.1% | Low top rate (2.5%) with modest brackets |
| Rank | State | Take-home | Effective tax | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | California | $69,400 | 30.6% | 9.3% marginal at $100k |
| 50 | Oregon | $70,000 | 30.0% | 8.75% marginal, no sales tax offset |
| 49 | Hawaii | $70,300 | 29.7% | 7.6% top rate |
| 48 | New York | $70,600 | 29.4% | Plus NYC local income tax if applicable |
| 47 | Minnesota | $71,000 | 29.0% | 6.8% top rate |
| 46 | DC | $71,100 | 28.9% | 6.5% top rate |
| 45 | Vermont | $71,300 | 28.7% | 6.6% top rate |
| 44 | Delaware | $71,400 | 28.6% | 6.6% top rate |
| 43 | Maine | $71,500 | 28.5% | 6.75% top rate |
| 42 | Massachusetts | $71,700 | 28.3% | 5% flat + 4% millionaire surcharge above $1M |
👉 Model your exact take-home in any state using our Paycheck Calculator.
State income tax is only one piece. The full state tax burden also includes:
Ranges from 0.28% (Hawaii) to 2.47% (New Jersey) of home value annually. On a $500,000 home, that's the difference between $1,400 and $12,350 per year. Texas and New Hampshire have no income tax but 1.6–2.1% effective property tax, a big offset if you own.
Ranges from 0% (Oregon, Montana, Delaware, New Hampshire, Alaska mostly) to 9.5%+ (Tennessee, Louisiana, Arkansas, Washington). Adds up to $2,000–5,000/year for a typical household.
Some states allow cities/counties to layer on their own income tax:
Some states charge annual personal property tax on vehicles (Virginia, Connecticut, Missouri). Can add $500–2,000/year on a newer car.
The rankings above assume $100,000 single. At higher incomes, the gap widens dramatically because progressive brackets kick in:
For high earners, moving to a no-tax state can save six figures a year. This is why states like Florida and Texas have become popular destinations for remote workers in tech and finance.
Almost never for its own sake, but sometimes as a tiebreaker. Consider:
The 9 no-income-tax states have a real advantage that grows with income, but property tax, sales tax, and insurance often narrow the gap. For most middle-income earners, the state you live in changes your take-home by 5–10%. For high earners, the difference is life-changing. Run the exact number for your salary in our Paycheck Calculator, comparing your current state to a target state is a two-minute exercise that can inform much bigger decisions.
See how your salary translates in any state, with 2026 brackets and FICA included.
Open the Paycheck Calculator →