Tax year 2026
Compare two offers
Two salaries, two places. See which one leaves more in your pocket after federal, state and city taxes, and what salary would make them equal.
Offer B leaves you $1,354 more a year, or $52.09 a paycheck.
| For the year | A · Texas | B · California | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $85,000 | $95,000 | +$10,000 |
| Federal income tax | $9,870 | $12,070 | +$2,200 |
| Social Security and Medicare | $6,503 | $7,268 | +$765 |
| State income tax | $0 | $4,446 | +$4,446 |
| State payroll programs | $0 | $1,235 | +$1,235 |
| Take-home pay | $68,628 | $69,982 | +$1,354 |
| Take-home per paycheck | $2,639.52 | $2,691.61 | +$52.09 |
| Kept of every $100 | $80.74 | $73.66 | −$7.08 |
Taxes only. Rent, sales tax, property tax and commuting costs differ by place and are not counted.
Estimate for tax year 2026. Your real paycheck depends on your W-4, your benefits and your employer's payroll system. This is education, not tax, payroll or financial advice.
How to compare job offers in different places
A bigger salary does not always mean a bigger paycheck. State income tax runs from nothing to more than 13%, some cities add their own, and a few states take payroll premiums on top. This calculator runs both offers through the same 2026 tax rules and sets the results side by side.
The break-even figure is the most useful one in a negotiation: it is the salary in the second place that would leave exactly the same take-home pay as the first.
Taxes are only part of the picture. Rent, sales tax, property tax, insurance and commuting costs differ by place and are not counted here.
Questions
How much more do I need to earn to move to a higher-tax state?
Enter your current salary and state as offer A and the new state as offer B. The break-even figure is the salary in the new state that leaves the same take-home pay.
Does this include city taxes?
Yes, when you choose a city or county for either offer. New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, and every county in Indiana and Maryland are among those covered.
Does it include the cost of living?
No. It compares paychecks after tax. Housing and other living costs need to be weighed separately.