Tax arbitrage

Utah take-home pay

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

Utah at $85,000

Utah ranks 36 of 51 on a $85,000 salary, leaving an estimated $64,949 a year — $3,678 less than the highest-ranked jurisdiction. The full spread between first and last is $7,196.

Take-home pay at $85,000,Utah against the highest and lowest ranked jurisdictions
RankJurisdictionTake-homeBehind first
1Florida$68,628—
36Utah$64,949$3,678
51Oregon$61,432$7,196

Utah applies one flat rate

Utah taxes wage income at a single 4.45% rate rather than a graduated schedule, so the state share does not change shape as the salary rises. After $0 of deductions the state taxes $85,000, producing $3,678 — 4.33% of gross pay.

Where a move from Utah gains most

Ranked by what each would add to take-home pay against Utah's $64,949, 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 Utah at $85,000
JurisdictionRankTake-homeGained a year
Florida1$68,628$3,678
Nevada2$68,628$3,678
New Hampshire3$68,628$3,678
South Dakota4$68,628$3,678
Tennessee5$68,628$3,678

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 Utah rank for take-home pay in 2026?

Utah ranks 36 of 51 US jurisdictions on an $85,000 single-filer salary, keeping an estimated $64,949 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 Utah?

About $3,678 a year on an $85,000 salary. Florida ranks first of 51 and Utah ranks 36. 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 Utah 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.