Side-by-side tax comparison between Texas (no income tax) and Washington (no income tax). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Both Texas and Washington have no state income tax, so the take-home pay difference at any salary level comes down to local taxes and cost of living. Federal tax and FICA are identical regardless of state.
Neither state imposes local income taxes, so the only difference is cost of living: Texas at 93 vs Washington at 110.
Texas wins at 0 out of 10 salary levels tested. The states are evenly matched.
| Salary | Texas | Washington | Difference | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $40K | $34,320 | $34,320 | $0 | Tie |
| $50K | $42,355 | $42,355 | $0 | Tie |
| $60K | $50,390 | $50,390 | $0 | Tie |
| $75K | $61,538 | $61,538 | $0 | Tie |
| $100K | $79,125 | $79,125 | $0 | Tie |
| $120K | $93,195 | $93,195 | $0 | Tie |
| $150K | $113,751 | $113,751 | $0 | Tie |
| $200K | $148,887 | $148,887 | $0 | Tie |
| $250K | $183,264 | $183,264 | $0 | Tie |
| $300K | $215,329 | $215,329 | $0 | Tie |
Take-home pay only tells part of the story. Texas has a cost of living index of 93 while Washington is at 110 (national average = 100).
This is a substantial difference. After adjusting for cost of living, $100K in Texas has purchasing power of $85,081 compared to $71,932 in Washington. Texas wins on both raw take-home and cost-adjusted purchasing power, making it the clear winner for a $100K earner.
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $84,710 in Texas and $84,710 in Washington \u2014 a difference of $0. The gap remains similar regardless of filing status.
On paper, moving from Washington to Texas would save $0/year on a $100K salary, or $0 over 5 years. But relocation involves real costs: moving expenses, potentially buying/selling a home, changing jobs, and adjusting to a new community.
At $0/year, the tax difference alone likely isn’t worth relocating for. Other factors — job market, lifestyle, family — should drive the decision. The tax savings are a nice bonus if you’re already considering the move for other reasons.