Side-by-side tax comparison between Illinois (4.95% top rate) and Washington (no income tax).
| Salary | Illinois | Washington | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $50K | $40,441 | $42,298 | +$1,856 | Washington |
| $75K | $58,518 | $61,303 | +$2,784 | Washington |
| $100K | $75,178 | $78,890 | +$3,713 | Washington |
| $150K | $107,877 | $113,446 | +$5,569 | Washington |
| $200K | $141,678 | $149,103 | +$7,425 | Washington |
Washington offers higher take-home pay at every salary level. With no state income tax, Washington gives you a significant advantage over Illinois's 4.95% top rate. At $100K, the difference is $3,713/year — that’s $309/month.
However, cost of living matters. Illinois has a cost index of 93 while Washington is at 110. After adjusting for cost of living, the gap narrows significantly.