State tax rankings · 2026
Where does $200K keep the most?
The states that take the least from a $200,000 single salary in 2026. At $200,000 the gap between states widens far more than at $100K, graduated systems push six-figure income deep into their upper brackets, while 9 states still take $0.
This list, in one line
9 no-tax states keep the most of a $200K salary at about 25.5% all-in, the #15 cutoff to make this list is $6,140 (Pennsylvania). Living in Oregon instead costs about $17,760 more in state tax alone.
- 9
- No-tax states (tied lowest)
- 25.5%
- Lowest all-in effective rate
- $6,140
- #15, the cutoff to make this list
- $17,760
- Lowest-vs-highest state-tax gap
Single filer, standard deduction, wage income only. Federal + FICA identical everywhere, this ranking does not account for cost of living, housing, sales/property tax, or job availability.
Lowest state tax at $200K (among taxing states)
The 9 no-tax states sit at $0 and aren't charted. These are the 12 states with the smallest state-tax line on a $200,000 single salary, the lowest taxing state is highlighted.
Top 15: lowest state tax at $200K
Ranked from the smallest $200K state-tax line up. Each links to that state's full 2026 breakdown and calculator.
| # | State | State tax | Effective rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $0 | 25.5% |
| 2 | Florida | $0 | 25.5% |
| 3 | Nevada | $0 | 25.5% |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $0 | 25.5% |
| 5 | South Dakota | $0 | 25.5% |
| 6 | Tennessee | $0 | 25.5% |
| 7 | Texas | $0 | 25.5% |
| 8 | Washington | $0 | 25.5% |
| 9 | Wyoming | $0 | 25.5% |
| 10 | North Dakota | $2,640 | 26.9% |
| 11 | Arizona | $4,600 | 27.8% |
| 12 | Ohio | $5,060 | 28.1% |
| 13 | Louisiana | $5,520 | 28.3% |
| 14 | Indiana | $5,880 | 28.5% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania | $6,140 | 28.6% |
The spread widens sharply at $200K
At $100K, the most a state takes is a few thousand dollars. Double the salary and the gap roughly doubles, and then some, because graduated brackets push the extra income into higher marginal rates. The lowest-versus-highest state-tax gap on a $200,000 salary is about $17,760, with Oregon at the heavy end and the 9 no-tax states at $0.
No tax beats low-and-flat for high earners
For a six-figure salary, the no-tax states have the lowest bill outright, there's no rate to scale up. Among states that do tax wages, low flat-rate jurisdictions hold up best, since a flat rate doesn't escalate the way a graduated schedule does. North Dakota stays gentlest at about $2,640. This is the state-tax line only, it does not weigh cost of living, housing, or other state and local taxes. Model your own number with the calculator.
Sources
- Tax Foundation, 2026 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32-2026 federal inflation-adjusted brackets
- Social Security Administration, 2026 FICA / OASDI wage base (incl. Additional Medicare)
All figures: single filer, standard deduction, wage income only, no credits or local taxes. The largest state-tax spreads emerge above $1 million, where the highest top brackets finally apply. See the full methodology.
Every figure on PlainSalary is computed directly from official IRS, state Department of Revenue, and SSA tax data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on official tax data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.