How Much More You Would Make in Your State If Income Tax Vanished
Throughout President Donald Trump's election campaign and presidency, he has repeatedly raised the idea of replacing income taxes with tariffs on all imported goods.
While it's far from becoming a reality, with experts questioning whether it's feasible (CNBC said that over the past 70 years, tariffs have rarely made up more than 2% of total federal revenue), it raises a question: How much bigger would paychecks get without income tax being deducted?
To get an idea, we removed federal income tax from the average salary per state, according to Forbes, and SmartAsset's federal income tax calculator for the 2025 filing season. The results show how much extra could be included in monthly paychecks without federal income tax deductions on each state's average salary.
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Alabama
Average salary: $50,620
Monthly boost: $340.83
Alaska
Average salary: $66,130
Monthly boost: $532.42
Arizona
Average salary: $58,620
Monthly boost: $420.83
Arkansas
Average salary: $48,570
Monthly boost: $320.33
California
Average salary: $73,220
Monthly boost: $662.42
Colorado
Average salary: $67,870
Monthly boost: $564.33
Connecticut
Average salary: $69,310
Monthly boost: $590.75
Delaware
Average salary: $62,260
Monthly boost: $461.50
Florida
Average salary: $55,980
Monthly boost: $394.42
Georgia
Average salary: $58,000
Monthly boost: $414.67
Hawaii
Average salary: $61,420
Monthly boost: $448.83
Idaho
Average salary: $51,350
Monthly boost: $348.17
Illinois
Average salary: $63,930
Monthly boost: $492.08
Indiana
Average salary: $53,500
Monthly boost: $369.67
Iowa
Average salary: $53,520
Monthly boost: $369.83
Kansas
Average salary: $52,850
Monthly boost: $363.17
Kentucky
Average salary: $51,490
Monthly boost: $349.58
Louisiana
Average salary: $50,940
Monthly boost: $344.08
Maine
Average salary: $55,960
Monthly boost: $394.25
Maryland
Average salary: $69,750
Monthly boost: $598.83
Massachusetts
Average salary: $76,600
Monthly boost: $724.42
Michigan
Average salary: $58,000
Monthly boost: $414.67
Minnesota
Average salary: $63,640
Monthly boost: $486.75
Mississippi
Average salary: $45,180
Monthly boost: $286.42
Missouri
Average salary: $54,520
Monthly boost: $379.83
Montana
Average salary: $52,200
Monthly boost: $356.67
Nebraska
Average salary: $55,070
Monthly boost: $385.33
Nevada
Average salary: $55,490
Monthly boost: $389.58
New Hampshire
Average salary: $62,550
Monthly boost: $466.83
New Jersey
Average salary: $70,890
Monthly boost: $619.67
New Mexico
Average salary: $54,400
Monthly boost: $378.67
New York
Average salary: $74,870
Monthly boost: $692.67
North Carolina
Average salary: $56,220
Monthly boost: $396.83
North Dakota
Average salary: $55,800
Monthly boost: $392.67
Ohio
Average salary: $56,530
Monthly boost: $399.92
Oklahoma
Average salary: $50,940
Monthly boost: $344.08
Oregon
Average salary: $62,680
Monthly boost: $469.17
Pennsylvania
Average salary: $58,470
Monthly boost: $419.33
Rhode Island
Average salary: $64,530
Monthly boost: $503.08
South Carolina
Average salary: $50,650
Monthly boost: $341.17
South Dakota
Average salary: $49,890
Monthly boost: $333.58
Tennessee
Average salary: $52,820
Monthly boost: $362.83
Texas
Average salary: $57,300
Monthly boost: $407.67
Utah
Average salary: $57,360
Monthly boost: $408.25
Vermont
Average salary: $59,190
Monthly boost: $426.58
Virginia
Average salary: $65,590
Monthly boost: $522.50
Washington
Average salary: $72,350
Monthly boost: $646.50
West Virginia
Average salary: $49,170
Monthly boost: $326.33
Wisconsin
Average salary: $56,120
Monthly boost: $395.83
Wyoming
Average salary: $54,440
Monthly boost: $379.08
This comparison used each state's average salary and a single filing status to determine the monthly paycheck boost. Additionally, it factors in only federal income tax, not state taxes, which will rise on your increased income. Some states, like Texas, Florida and Washington, are free from state income tax, so residents of those states would already be a step ahead. Residents where state income tax is already high, like New York and Vermont, would still be losing a chunk of their paycheck even if federal taxes were eliminated.
Editor's note on political coverage: We are nonpartisan and strive to cover all aspects of the economy objectively and present balanced reports on politically focused finance stories.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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