TakeHomeTax

Best States for Median Income Earners (2026)

Ranked by take-home pay on each state's own median income, adjusted for cost of living.

#StateTax RateTypeTake-HomeMonthlyEff. RateCost IndexCost-Adj.
1New Hampshire0%None$62,006$5,16718.4%108$57,413
2Texas0%None$51,940$4,32816.2%93$55,849
3Illinois4.95%Flat$51,854$4,32120.2%93$55,757
4Washington0%None$60,599$5,05018.1%110$55,090
5Maryland5.75%Grad.$61,461$5,12225.0%112$54,876
6Utah4.65%Flat$54,007$4,50120.6%99$54,552
7Virginia5.75%Grad.$56,087$4,67422.1%103$54,453
8North Dakota1.95%Grad.$49,455$4,12117.6%92$53,755
9Wyoming0%None$50,333$4,19416.1%94$53,545
10Massachusetts5%Flat$63,152$5,26323.0%118$53,519
11Connecticut6.99%Grad.$59,324$4,94423.9%111$53,445
12South Dakota0%None$48,726$4,06016.0%92$52,963
13Iowa5.7%Grad.$46,246$3,85420.3%89$51,962
14Minnesota9.85%Grad.$51,355$4,28024.5%99$51,873
15New Jersey10.75%Grad.$59,616$4,96827.3%115$51,840
16Colorado4.4%Flat$54,134$4,51120.4%105$51,556
17Nebraska5.84%Grad.$46,185$3,84920.4%91$50,753
18Pennsylvania3.07%Flat$49,582$4,13220.0%98$50,594
19Wisconsin7.65%Grad.$46,890$3,90821.9%93$50,419
20Ohio3.5%Grad.$44,809$3,73420.0%90$49,787
21Michigan4.25%Flat$45,250$3,77120.6%91$49,725
22Kansas5.7%Grad.$44,725$3,72720.1%90$49,694
23Tennessee0%None$44,708$3,72615.6%90$49,676
24Arizona2.5%Flat$47,638$3,97017.9%97$49,111
25Missouri4.8%Grad.$43,510$3,62620.9%89$48,888
26Indiana3.05%Flat$43,466$3,62219.5%90$48,296
27Nevada0%None$48,726$4,06016.0%101$48,243
28Georgia5.49%Flat$44,813$3,73420.0%93$48,186
29Florida0%None$47,922$3,99415.9%100$47,922
30Rhode Island5.99%Grad.$49,913$4,15920.8%105$47,536
31Oklahoma4.75%Grad.$41,284$3,44019.1%87$47,453
32Delaware6.6%Grad.$47,941$3,99522.7%102$47,000
33Alabama5%Grad.$41,175$3,43120.8%88$46,789
34Idaho5.8%Flat$43,923$3,66020.1%95$46,234
35North Carolina4.5%Flat$43,689$3,64119.1%95$45,988
36Arkansas4.4%Grad.$39,107$3,25918.5%86$45,473
37Montana5.9%Grad.$43,881$3,65720.2%97$45,238
38Maine7.15%Grad.$44,116$3,67621.2%98$45,016
39Kentucky4%Flat$40,048$3,33719.9%90$44,497
40South Carolina6.4%Grad.$40,653$3,38820.3%92$44,188
41Vermont8.75%Grad.$46,395$3,86622.7%105$44,186
42Louisiana4.25%Grad.$39,932$3,32818.5%91$43,881
43New Mexico5.9%Grad.$39,326$3,27719.7%91$43,215
44Mississippi5%Grad.$35,827$2,98618.6%83$43,164
45West Virginia5.12%Grad.$35,787$2,98218.7%83$43,117
46Oregon9.9%Grad.$47,120$3,92725.2%110$42,837
47Alaska0%None$54,268$4,52216.5%127$42,730
48New York10.9%Grad.$49,799$4,15026.8%125$39,839
49California13.3%Grad.$55,633$4,63628.7%142$39,178
50Hawaii11%Grad.$53,252$4,43826.0%192$27,735

More Rankings

Highest Take-HomeNo Income TaxCheapest StatesRemote Workers$100K Salary
The Take-Home Tax Guide
Weekly tips on reducing your tax burden, state tax changes, and salary negotiation strategies. Free.