How to compare salary or hourly wages across states
Enter one annual salary, or switch to hourly pay and add your weekly hours. Choose two states and keep the filing status and 401(k) contribution the same. This wage comparison calculator estimates annual take-home pay and pay per paycheck in each location, then separates state income tax, employee payroll contributions, and any selected local tax.
Use the difference to see how much of the same gross pay you would keep in each state. If you have two job offers with different salaries, this tool does not compare those offer amounts side by side; run each salary separately and compare the resulting estimates.
How to read a state paycheck comparison
Start with the annual take-home difference, then check the tax rows. A state with no wage income tax can still collect employee-paid leave or disability contributions. Washington, for example, models PFML and WA Cares even though its wage income-tax line is zero. New York City residents can have an extra city income tax on top of New York State tax. A “zero” local row without a locality selected means no local tax was modeled for that side.
The default comparison uses $100,000, single filing status, no dependents, no voluntary deductions and biweekly pay. For California versus Texas, the federal income tax and FICA estimates match; the difference is California withholding and SDI. Change the inputs to see whether that remains true for your situation.
Can I compare salary between cities?
For a salary comparison by city, select each city’s state first. If you live in New York City, switch on NYC residency; if a supported municipality such as Philadelphia applies, select its local wage tax. The result compares estimated take-home pay for the same wage under those tax settings. For cities without a selectable local option, only the modeled state-level taxes and payroll programs differ.
This is not a comparison of typical salaries, housing prices, or cost of living between cities. A higher take-home figure does not tell you which city is more affordable. See the state paycheck guides for the locations and tax rules we cover.
What this estimate includes—and what it cannot tell you
Both sides use the same 2026 W-2 wages, filing status, pay schedule and optional traditional 401(k) contribution. For hourly wages, annual gross pay assumes the selected hours every week for 52 paid weeks; switching pay types rounds the hourly rate to cents, so annual pay may shift slightly. The calculator applies federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare, state income tax and modeled employee state payroll programs. It can include NYC resident tax or one of the supported municipal wage taxes when selected. The 401(k) lowers modeled income-taxable wages but remains subject to FICA; actual plan eligibility and catch-up contributions are not assessed here.
The comparison assumes an independent full-year wage scenario in each location. It does not calculate cross-state nonresident returns, taxes paid to another state, employer W-4/DE 4 elections, all state credits, every local jurisdiction, property or sales taxes, benefits costs, or housing costs. A larger paycheck is not automatically a lower overall cost of living. New York State’s published tax tables currently run through 2025; its modeled 2026 brackets are planning assumptions. Review the methodology and official-source register before relying on an estimate.
Explore the $100,000 examples
These focused guides show the same starting salary with five pay schedules, itemized deductions and the local assumptions behind each result.
- California after taxes
- Texas after taxes
- New York City after taxes
- Florida after taxes
- Illinois after taxes
- Georgia after taxes
- Massachusetts after taxes
See all $100,000 salary estimates side by side.
Browse state paycheck guides or use the full paycheck calculator for additional benefits and wage options.