Side-by-side tax comparison between Washington (no income tax) and Wyoming (no income tax). See which state lets you keep more at every salary level, and how cost of living changes the picture.
Both Washington and Wyoming 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: Washington at 110 vs Wyoming at 94.
Washington wins at 0 out of 10 salary levels tested. The states are evenly matched.
| Salary | Washington | Wyoming | 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. Washington has a cost of living index of 110 while Wyoming is at 94 (national average = 100).
This is a substantial difference. After adjusting for cost of living, $100K in Washington has purchasing power of $71,932 compared to $84,176 in Wyoming. Interestingly, Wyoming wins on purchasing power even though Washington has higher raw take-home pay. The cost of living difference more than offsets the tax advantage.
For a single earner at $100K filing jointly, take-home becomes $84,710 in Washington and $84,710 in Wyoming \u2014 a difference of $0. The gap remains similar regardless of filing status.
On paper, moving from Wyoming to Washington 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.