# Compare job offers take-home (2026)

An offer letter quotes gross. Take-home depends on state wage tax, optional city tax (NYC), CA SDI, and WA Cares, plus the 401(k) you actually elect. Use the calculator below: set salary and state, then pick a second state in Compare.

A $10,000 higher salary in California can lose to a lower Texas number after federal, FICA, and California tax plus SDI. The compare column holds every other input fixed so the gap is the state (and local extras) line.

Share the URL after you set both states — the query string stores state, gross, frequency, filing status, and the compare target. Filing status starts as single; switch it if the offer is for a joint household.

This is not a cost-of-living index. Rent, sales tax, and commute are outside the paycheck. Estimates reviewed August 24, 2026.

## Sample estimates

### $120k single, California

- Gross: $120,000.00
- Federal income tax: $17,570.00
- Social Security: $7,440.00
- Medicare: $1,740.00
- State income tax: $6,930.42
- Net / take-home: $84,759.58 (effective tax 29.4%)
- Per paycheck net: $84,759.58 (1 periods)

### $120k single, Texas

- Gross: $120,000.00
- Federal income tax: $17,570.00
- Social Security: $7,440.00
- Medicare: $1,740.00
- State income tax: $0.00
- Net / take-home: $93,250.00 (effective tax 22.3%)
- Per paycheck net: $93,250.00 (1 periods)

Label: engine estimates, not pay stubs.

## FAQ

### Does this include NYC tax?

Only if the first or compare state is New York and you check NYC resident. Other city taxes are omitted.

### Can I compare two salaries?

Set the gross to offer A, note the net, then type offer B. Or open two tabs. The compare control is for two states on the same wage.

### Is this tax advice?

No. It is a labeled 2026 withholding-style estimate.

## Related

- [California vs Texas paycheck](https://takehomecash.com/california-vs-texas-paycheck/index.md)
- [No state income tax](https://takehomecash.com/no-state-income-tax-paycheck/index.md)
- [Methodology](https://takehomecash.com/methodology/index.md)