The same salary, two very different outcomes
State income tax is one of the largest controllable variables in your take-home pay, and it varies enormously by geography — from nine states charging nothing at all on wages to states with top brackets well into double digits. For a remote worker choosing where to live, or anyone weighing a job offer in a different state, the state tax gap alone can be worth thousands of dollars a year at the same salary.
Why “no income tax” isn’t automatically the win it sounds like
States with no income tax still need revenue, and they typically make it up through higher sales tax, property tax, or other fees. This calculator compares income tax specifically, which is real and meaningful, but it’s not the whole picture — a no-income-tax state with high property taxes can still cost a homeowner more overall than a modest-income-tax state with low property taxes. Treat this as one input to a bigger decision, not the entire analysis.
Why the gap changes at different income levels
The table below shows the same two states compared across a range of incomes, and the gap between them often isn’t constant. States with progressive brackets tend to widen their gap against flat-tax or no-tax states as income rises, since more of a high earner’s income falls into the top brackets. If you’re comparing states for a decision that spans a career, not just your current salary, it’s worth checking the comparison at a higher income too.
What this doesn’t capture
This is state income tax only. It doesn’t include sales tax, property tax, local income taxes some cities layer on top, or state-specific credits and deductions you might qualify for. It also doesn’t include federal tax or FICA, which are identical regardless of state — use our Take-Home Pay by State calculator for the full paycheck picture in a single state.
Using this calculator
Compare your current state against wherever you’re considering a move, at your actual income. If you’re negotiating a remote job with location flexibility, running a few candidate states side by side can turn an abstract “cost of living” conversation into a specific dollar figure.
This article is for educational purposes only and isn't legal, financial, or tax advice. See our Disclaimer for details.
