Illinois vs. Texas: where a paycheck goes further
Texas keeps $3,568 more per year than Illinois at a $75,000 salary
more kept in Texas at $75,000 · single filer, no 401(k) · 2026
- Keep at $75K in Illinois
- $58,025
- Keep at $75K in Texas
- $61,593
- Difference / month
- $297.31
- Difference at $150K
- $7,280
What explains the gap
Texas keeps more of a $75,000 salary than Illinois. Texas does not tax wages at all. Illinois taxes wages at a flat 4.95%.
Illinois bars local income taxes statewide (including Chicago). The exemption phases out entirely above $250K/$500K AGI, not modeled here. Local income taxes are not included in the figures on this page.
This is a take-home-pay comparison only: cost of living, housing prices, property tax, and sales tax are out of scope and can easily outweigh the income-tax gap shown here.
Take-home pay, Illinois vs. Texas
| Salary | Illinois | Texas | Extra kept in Texas |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,025 | $42,355 | $2,330 |
| $75,000 | $58,025 | $61,593 | $3,568 |
| $100,000 | $74,375 | $79,180 | $4,805 |
| $150,000 | $106,511 | $113,791 | $7,280 |
| $200,000 | $139,172 | $148,927 | $9,755 |
Single filer, no 401(k), 2026 federal and state tables. Texas keeps more at every salary shown here.
How each state's paycheck math differs
| Metric | Illinois | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Effective all-in rate at $75,000 | 22.6% | 17.9% |
| Top marginal state rate | 5.0% | 0.0% |
| State income-tax structure | Flat | None |
| Employee-paid payroll programs | None | None |
Quick answers
- Is it cheaper to live in Texas than Illinois?
- This page only compares take-home pay from wages; it does not account for housing, property tax, sales tax, or everyday cost of living, which can differ far more than the $3,568 income-tax gap shown here. At $75,000, Texas take-home runs $3,568 a year higher than Illinois's, but that says nothing about rent or home prices in either state.
- How does Illinois tax wages differently than Texas in 2026?
- Illinois taxes wages at a flat 4.95%. Texas does not tax wages at all.
- How much more do I keep in Texas at $100,000?
- About $4,805 more a year in Texas than Illinois at a $100,000 salary, single filer, no 401(k): $79,180 take-home in Texas versus $74,375 in Illinois, after federal tax, FICA, and state tax.
- Is this the exact amount my employer will withhold?
- No. It is a planning estimate on 2026 tables. Actual withholding follows your W-4 elections, benefit premiums, and any local taxes, so individual paychecks can differ even when the year's total lands close. Nothing you type here leaves your browser.