Tax arbitrage

Illinois take-home pay

Ranked against every other state and DC for the same salary, filing status, dependents, retirement savings, and pay frequency.

Illinois at $85,000

Illinois ranks 40 of 51 on a $85,000 salary, leaving an estimated $64,565 a year — $4,063 less than the highest-ranked jurisdiction. The full spread between first and last is $7,196.

Take-home pay at $85,000,Illinois against the highest and lowest ranked jurisdictions
RankJurisdictionTake-homeBehind first
1Florida$68,628—
40Illinois$64,565$4,063
51Oregon$61,432$7,196

Illinois applies one flat rate

Illinois taxes wage income at a single 4.95% rate rather than a graduated schedule, so the state share does not change shape as the salary rises. After $2,925 of deductions the state taxes $82,075, producing $4,063 — 4.78% of gross pay.

Where a move from Illinois gains most

Ranked by what each would add to take-home pay against Illinois's $64,565, on the same salary and profile. This is before cost of living, which routinely reverses the order — the highest-ranked jurisdictions here are not the cheapest places to live.

The five largest take-home gains against Illinois at $85,000
JurisdictionRankTake-homeGained a year
Florida1$68,628$4,063
Nevada2$68,628$4,063
New Hampshire3$68,628$4,063
South Dakota4$68,628$4,063
Tennessee5$68,628$4,063

A single filer paid biweekly, no dependents and no 401(k) contribution, on 2026 federal, FICA and state rules reviewed through 2026-08-09. State income tax only — local and municipal taxes are excluded, as is cost of living.

Common questions

Where does Illinois rank for take-home pay in 2026?

Illinois ranks 40 of 51 US jurisdictions on an $85,000 single-filer salary, keeping an estimated $64,565 a year after federal tax, FICA and state tax. The spread between the highest- and lowest-ranked jurisdiction on that same salary is $7,196.

How much more would I keep in Florida than in Illinois?

About $4,063 a year on an $85,000 salary. Florida ranks first of 51 and Illinois ranks 40. That figure is before cost of living, which routinely reverses the order — the jurisdictions that keep the most of a paycheck are not generally the cheapest places to spend it.

Is it worth moving out of Illinois to pay less tax?

Not on this figure alone. The whole national spread on an $85,000 salary is $7,196 a year, and a difference in rent or mortgage of a few hundred dollars a month erases most of that. This ranking is a starting point for the tax question, not an answer to the moving question.