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.
The bar to make this list
Where the #12 cutoff sits among all 42 taxing states, not just the 12 shown above.
Distribution of the $200K state-tax line across 42 taxing states
Bucketed in $1,000 bands, no-tax states excluded
$8,100 Lower than most lower than 71% of 42 taxing states
taxing states, bucketed by value
Each bar is a $1K-wide band; taller bars hold more taxing states. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source Tax Foundation 2026 State Income Tax Rates · IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 · 2026 tax year
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 † (local income tax not included) | $5,060 | 28.1% |
| 13 | Louisiana | $5,520 | 28.3% |
| 14 | Indiana † (local income tax not included) | $5,880 | 28.5% |
| 15 | Pennsylvania † (local income tax not included) | $6,140 | 28.6% |
† Local income tax not included: Ohio (cities and school districts may add local income taxes); Indiana (counties add a local income tax); Pennsylvania (localities add an earned income tax). These figures are the state layer only for every state; other states also have local levies that are not modeled at all. See the methodology.
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.
What to do with this list
$200K is a different comparison than $100K, the gap between states widens sharply.
- Run your own $200K (or any income) through every one of the 51 jurisdictions. Calculate my take-home
- See the same comparison at the $100K income level, where the state-tax gap is much narrower. Lowest state tax at $100K
- Understand why doubling salary changes a state's ranking: how marginal brackets stack. How tax brackets work
2026 tax year figures from each state's own Department of Revenue schedule; the calculator adjusts for your exact filing status.
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.