Best States for Take-Home Pay in 2024
Where you live has a massive impact on how much of your salary you actually keep. A $75,000 salary in Texas yields significantly more take-home pay than the same salary in California or New York — even before accounting for cost of living differences. We calculated take-home pay for all 50 states to show you exactly where your dollar goes furthest.
Methodology: All calculations use a $75,000 annual salary, single filing status, bi-weekly pay frequency, and no additional deductions. Federal tax brackets and FICA rates reflect 2024 values.
Top 10 States for Take-Home Pay ($75,000 Salary)
| Rank | State | Annual Take-Home | State Tax | Eff. Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1🥇 | AlaskaNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 2🥈 | FloridaNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 3🥉 | NevadaNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 4 | New HampshireNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 5 | South DakotaNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 6 | TennesseeNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 7 | TexasNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 8 | WashingtonNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 9 | WyomingNo Tax | $60,922 | $0 | 18.8% |
| 10 | North Dakota | $60,616 | $306 | 19.2% |
| 11 | Ohio | $59,575 | $1,346 | 20.6% |
| 12 | Arizona | $59,393 | $1,529 | 20.8% |
| 13 | Indiana | $58,695 | $2,227 | 21.7% |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $58,619 | $2,303 | 21.8% |
| 15 | Louisiana | $58,507 | $2,415 | 22.0% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | $58,505 | $2,417 | 22.0% |
| 17 | New Jersey | $58,269 | $2,653 | 22.3% |
| 18 | Colorado | $58,264 | $2,658 | 22.3% |
| 19 | New Mexico | $58,241 | $2,680 | 22.3% |
| 20 | Michigan | $58,159 | $2,763 | 22.5% |
| 21 | Iowa | $58,155 | $2,766 | 22.5% |
| 22 | North Carolina | $58,120 | $2,801 | 22.5% |
| 23 | Missouri | $58,115 | $2,807 | 22.5% |
| 24 | Utah | $58,113 | $2,809 | 22.5% |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $57,936 | $2,985 | 22.8% |
| 26 | Vermont | $57,869 | $3,052 | 22.8% |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $57,849 | $3,072 | 22.9% |
| 28 | Arkansas | $57,838 | $3,083 | 22.9% |
| 29 | California | $57,777 | $3,144 | 23.0% |
| 30 | South Carolina | $57,706 | $3,216 | 23.1% |
| 31 | Kentucky | $57,689 | $3,233 | 23.1% |
| 32 | Nebraska | $57,671 | $3,251 | 23.1% |
| 33 | Maryland | $57,526 | $3,396 | 23.3% |
| 34 | Mississippi | $57,505 | $3,417 | 23.3% |
| 35 | Illinois | $57,449 | $3,472 | 23.4% |
| 36 | New York | $57,432 | $3,489 | 23.4% |
| 37 | Kansas | $57,432 | $3,490 | 23.4% |
| 38 | Idaho | $57,418 | $3,503 | 23.4% |
| 39 | Alabama | $57,412 | $3,510 | 23.5% |
| 40 | Virginia | $57,380 | $3,542 | 23.5% |
| 41 | Minnesota | $57,272 | $3,649 | 23.6% |
| 42 | Connecticut | $57,247 | $3,675 | 23.7% |
| 43 | Montana | $57,222 | $3,700 | 23.7% |
| 44 | Delaware | $57,210 | $3,712 | 23.7% |
| 45 | Massachusetts | $57,172 | $3,750 | 23.8% |
| 46 | West Virginia | $57,172 | $3,750 | 23.8% |
| 47 | Georgia | $57,100 | $3,821 | 23.9% |
| 48 | Maine | $57,092 | $3,830 | 23.9% |
| 49 | Oregon | $55,863 | $5,059 | 25.5% |
| 50 | Hawaii | $55,756 | $5,165 | 25.7% |
Why No-Income-Tax States Dominate
The top 9 positions are held by the states with no income tax. On a $75,000 salary, the difference between living in Texas (no state tax) versus California (highest marginal rate) can be over $4,500 per year — money that goes directly into your pocket.
The Trade-Off: Other Taxes and Cost of Living
No-income-tax states often make up revenue through other taxes. Texas, for example, has notably high property taxes — among the highest in the nation. Nevada relies heavily on sales and gaming taxes. Washington has a higher-than-average sales tax.
When comparing states, factor in:
- Property taxes — can add thousands annually for homeowners
- Sales taxes — Washington (6.5% base) vs. Oregon (no sales tax)
- Housing costs — often higher in no-tax states like Washington and Nevada
- Local taxes — some cities impose local income taxes (New York City, for example)
Best States for High Earners ($150,000+)
At higher income levels, the advantage of no-income-tax states becomes even more pronounced. A California resident earning $150,000 could be paying $10,000+ in state income tax alone. No-tax states with similar cost profiles — like Texas or Florida — see virtually none of that withholding.
Flat-tax states like Pennsylvania (3.07%) and Arizona (2.5%) become very competitive at high incomes because their rates don't scale upward as income grows.
Bottom Line
If maximizing take-home pay is your primary goal, no-income-tax states offer the clearest advantage. But the full financial picture requires considering property taxes, sales taxes, housing costs, and your employer's location. Use our state comparison tool to run a personalized analysis.
Compare Any Two States
See the exact dollar difference in take-home pay between any two states.
Open State Comparison Tool →