Comparing job offers across states? The gross number on the offer letter is not what hits your bank account, and the spread between states is bigger than most people think. Here is what a single filer earning $100,000 keeps in 2026, assuming the standard deduction and no pre-tax 401(k)/HSA contributions:
| State | Net per year | Net per month | Effective tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | ~$79,180 | ~$6,598 | ~20.8% |
| Florida | ~$79,180 | ~$6,598 | ~20.8% |
| New York (outside NYC) | ~$74,228 | ~$6,186 | ~25.8% |
| California | ~$72,670 | ~$6,056 | ~27.3% |
| New York City | ~$70,787 | ~$5,899 | ~29.2% |
Same salary, ~$8,400/year difference between Austin and NYC — before rent even enters the conversation.
Where the money goes
Every state starts from the same two federal deductions:
- Federal income tax: ~$13,170 on $100K for a single filer with the standard deduction (2026 brackets)
- FICA: $7,650 flat (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare)
Then the state layer:
- Texas & Florida: no state income tax. Done.
- New York State: state income tax on top; NYC residents also pay a city income tax — that's the extra ~$3,400/year gap between NYC and the rest of the state.
- California: state income tax plus SDI (disability insurance) withholding.
The caveats that actually matter
- 401(k) contributions change everything. Maxing a traditional 401(k) drops your taxable income and shrinks the state-tax penalty of high-tax states.
- These are single-filer numbers. Married filing jointly shifts every bracket.
- Cost of living is a separate axis. $79K net in Austin and $71K net in NYC buy very different apartments — but that's a rent problem, not a tax problem.
Run your own numbers
I maintain free, no-signup calculators with the 2026 brackets baked in — salary after tax by state, plus per-state breakdowns for California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
Not tax advice. 2026 figures assume standard deduction, single filer, no pre-tax deductions; sources and assumptions are listed on each linked page.
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