TakeHomeTax

Best Midwest States for Take-Home Pay (2026)

Tax rates and take-home pay comparison for all Midwest US states.

#1 State
South Dakota
$79,125 take-home
States Ranked
12
Median: Indiana
Spread
$6,403
#1 vs #12 difference

Key Takeaways

This ranking covers 12 states, with South Dakota at the top ($79,125 take-home on $100K) and Minnesota at the bottom ($72,723). The spread between best and worst is $6,403/year.

The ranking is influenced by state income tax rates, tax structure (flat vs graduated), local taxes, and in cost-adjusted rankings, the cost of living index. States with no income tax generally rank highest for raw take-home pay, but cost adjustments can shuffle the order significantly.

Full Rankings

#StateTax RateTypeTake-HomeMonthlyEff. RateCost IndexCost-Adj.
1South Dakota0%None$79,125$6,59420.9%92$86,005
2North Dakota1.95%Grad.$77,858$6,48822.1%92$84,628
3Nebraska4.55%Grad.$76,168$6,34723.8%91$83,701
4Kansas5.7%Grad.$75,420$6,28524.6%90$83,800
5Iowa3.8%Flat$75,325$6,27724.7%89$84,635
6Ohio2.75%Flat$74,875$6,24025.1%90$83,194
7Indiana2.95%Flat$74,675$6,22325.3%90$82,972
8Missouri4.8%Grad.$74,505$6,20925.5%89$83,713
9Illinois4.95%Flat$74,175$6,18125.8%93$79,758
10Wisconsin7.65%Grad.$74,153$6,17925.8%93$79,734
11Michigan4.25%Flat$73,375$6,11526.6%91$80,632
12Minnesota9.85%Grad.$72,723$6,06027.3%99$73,457
Pro Tip
Use the take-home calculator to model your specific salary and filing status. Rankings based on $100K may look different at your actual income level, especially in graduated-tax states.

Related Rankings

Best Southern States for Take-Home PayBest Western States for Take-Home PayBest Northeast States for Take-Home Pay9 States With No Income TaxStates With Flat Income Tax RatesStates With Graduated Income Tax
The Take-Home Tax Guide
Weekly tips on reducing your tax burden, state tax changes, and salary negotiation strategies. Free.