Salary comparison calculator
Two job offers, two states: what each one really pays after taxes.
Estimate with 2026 federal rules and each state's latest published rates, not tax advice. Calculated in your browser: nothing you type is sent anywhere.
Offer B is worth $1,742 more a year
+$145 a month
After every tax, counting your 401(k) and the employer match. Take-home alone: $258 a year for A.
| Line | TX offer A | CA offer B |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | $100,000 | $110,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$12,070 | −$14,160 |
| Social Security and Medicare | −$7,650 | −$8,415 |
| State taxes | none | −$6,903 |
| Take-home a year | $75,280 | $75,022 |
| Per month | $6,273 | $6,252 |
| Employer 401(k) match | $4,000 | $5,500 |
| Take-home + all 401(k) | $84,280 | $86,022 |
How the comparison works
- Each offer goes through the paycheck calculator: 2026 federal brackets, Social Security, Medicare and its state's tax.
- Your 401(k) lowers income tax, then counts as money you keep. The employer match counts up to your own contribution.
- The offer with more take-home plus 401(k) wins; the gap is shown per month.
The salary that matches $100,000 in Texas
Single filer, 2026: $100,000 in Texas takes home $79,180 a year. The salary below takes home as much in each state.
| State | Salary needed | vs Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $100,000 | same |
| Nevada | $100,000 | same |
| New Hampshire | $100,000 | same |
| South Dakota | $100,000 | same |
| Tennessee | $100,000 | same |
| Texas | $100,000 | same |
| Wyoming | $100,000 | same |
| Alaska | $100,386 | +$386 |
| North Dakota | $101,010 | +$1,010 |
| Washington | $102,012 | +$2,012 |
| Ohio | $102,911 | +$2,911 |
| Arizona | $103,377 | +$3,377 |
| Louisiana | $103,881 | +$3,881 |
| Indiana | $104,334 | +$4,334 |
| Pennsylvania | $104,672 | +$4,672 |
| Iowa | $104,731 | +$4,731 |
| Arkansas | $104,820 | +$4,820 |
| Mississippi | $104,926 | +$4,926 |
| Kentucky | $105,060 | +$5,060 |
| North Carolina | $105,247 | +$5,247 |
| South Carolina | $105,316 | +$5,316 |
| New Mexico | $105,454 | +$5,454 |
| Nebraska | $105,579 | +$5,579 |
| West Virginia | $105,612 | +$5,612 |
| Missouri | $105,732 | +$5,732 |
| Oklahoma | $106,006 | +$6,006 |
| Wisconsin | $106,026 | +$6,026 |
| Michigan | $106,051 | +$6,051 |
| Alabama | $106,135 | +$6,135 |
| Colorado | $106,307 | +$6,307 |
| Idaho | $106,444 | +$6,444 |
| Rhode Island | $106,476 | +$6,476 |
| Georgia | $106,490 | +$6,490 |
| Vermont | $106,494 | +$6,494 |
| Montana | $106,630 | +$6,630 |
| Maryland | $106,688 | +$6,688 |
| Utah | $106,753 | +$6,753 |
| Illinois | $107,348 | +$7,348 |
| Kansas | $107,381 | +$7,381 |
| New Jersey | $107,540 | +$7,540 |
| Virginia | $107,641 | +$7,641 |
| Massachusetts | $108,076 | +$8,076 |
| Connecticut | $108,223 | +$8,223 |
| New York | $108,228 | +$8,228 |
| Delaware | $108,933 | +$8,933 |
| District of Columbia | $108,944 | +$8,944 |
| Minnesota | $109,059 | +$9,059 |
| Maine | $109,816 | +$9,816 |
| Hawaii | $110,554 | +$10,554 |
| California | $110,636 | +$10,636 |
| Oregon | $114,155 | +$14,155 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I compare two job offers in different states?
Compare take-home pay, not salary. $100,000 in Texas leaves $79,180 a year for a single filer in 2026; to keep as much in California you need $110,636, in New York $108,228. Then add the employer 401(k) match, which is money you keep too.
Which state needs the highest salary to match Texas?
Oregon: $114,155 to take home what $100,000 leaves in Texas, because of its income tax and paid leave (employee share), statewide transit tax. States with no income tax on wages need $100,000 or a little more where a payroll premium applies.
Is a higher salary in California worth more than Texas?
Not always. With 5% in a 401(k), $100,000 in Texas with a 4% match is worth $84,280 a year in take-home plus 401(k), and $110,000 in California with a 6% match $86,022: a $10,000 raise turns into $1,742.
Does the calculator include cost of living?
No. It compares what each offer pays after taxes. Rent, prices and commuting differ by city and change faster than tax rules: weigh them on top of the after-tax difference.