Why does my take-home change when I move states?

Federal income tax and FICA are the same everywhere, but state income tax is not. Nine states have no income tax, many use a single flat rate, and the rest are progressive. Moving from California (top rate 13.3%) to Texas (0%) can leave thousands more in your paycheck at the same gross salary.

How is state income tax applied in this tool?

No-income-tax states are applied at 0%. Flat-tax states use their statutory rate. Progressive (graduated) states are applied at their TOP marginal rate as an upper-bound approximation, because full bracket tables are not embedded. For exact figures use your state estimator.

Yes. FICA (Social Security 6.2% up to the 2026 wage base of $176,100, plus Medicare 1.45%) is subtracted for both states because it is federal and location-independent. The difference you see is driven by state income tax.

Should I enter my federal income tax?

Optional. Federal tax is the same in both states, so it does not change the comparison — but entering your estimated federal liability (from last year’s return or the IRS estimator) gives a realistic absolute take-home number in each state.

Interactive Estimator

Cross-State Take-Home Comparison (2026)

AI summaries tell you "Texas has no income tax" — but they can't show you the dollars left in your paycheck after a move, or how FICA and your own federal bracket interact. Enter your salary and two states to see the real net difference.

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Gross annual salary ($)

Fed income tax est. ($/yr)

State A (current)

State B (prospect)

Cross-State Take-Home Comparison (2026)

allmoneycalc.com — estimate, not tax advice

Compares take-home pay across two states using verified 2026 state income tax rates plus FICA. State rates: Tax Foundation Facts & Figures 2026.

The money & relocation cluster

State Income Tax Rates 2026 (dataset) — the source behind this tool
Retirement Income Tax by State — how a move affects fixed retirement income
Sales Tax by State — daily-purchase impact of a move
Property Tax by State — if you own rather than rent

Educational estimate, not tax advice. FICA uses the 2026 Social Security wage base of $176,100 (6.2% up to base + 1.45% Medicare). State income tax: none=0%, flat=statutory rate, graduated=TOP marginal rate as an upper-bound approximation (full brackets not embedded). Federal income tax is user-supplied and location-independent. Local income taxes (NYC, Yonkers, some MD/OH/IN/IA/MO localities) are excluded. Verify with the IRS and your state revenue department. Source: Tax Foundation Facts & Figures 2026.

Data sources & methodology

Standard formulas Amortization, compound interest, and retirement projection equations per finance practice.

Public reference rates Savings/investment assumptions stated as planning estimates; no live market rates.

Internal editorial Calculators reviewed by the AllMoneyCalc editorial team before publication.

Methodology and citations are maintained by the AllMoneyCalc editorial team. Where an official schedule is not yet loaded, results are shown as model estimates and the source is stated as a reference.

Cross-State Take-Home Comparison (2026)

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The money & relocation cluster

Data sources & methodology

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Cross-State Take-Home Comparison (2026)

Compare two states

The money & relocation cluster

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Data sources & methodology

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Money & tax

Vehicle & insurance

Life events