Alaska vs 
West Virginia
Take-home pay after federal tax, state income tax, and FICA — calculated with the same engine as our paycheck calculator.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Winner at $100k
Alaska
Extra take-home / year
$3,181
Per month
$265
Over 10 years
$31,810
Moving from West Virginia → Alaska at $100,000
Metric vs metric
Lower tax and cost figures generally favor the highlighted cell. Rate structure notes sit under each state's calculator link.
| Metric | Alaska | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 0% · No state income tax (0%) | 4.82% · Progressive (top 4.82%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~1.82% | ~6.6% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.94% | ~0.51% |
| Cost of living index | 129 | 87.9 |
| Median household income | $83,200 | $54,200 |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | 4.2% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Alaska rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
West Virginia rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 4.82%.
Overview
Alaska has no state income tax, while West Virginia has progressive (top 4.82%). Staying in Alaska (vs West Virginia) saves about $3,181/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~1.82% vs ~6.6%. Property tax: ~0.94% vs ~0.51%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $83,200 vs $54,200.
Take-home by income
Net pay after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA — single filer, standard deduction, no dependents (2026). Advantage is take-home in West Virginia minus Alaska.
| Gross | Alaska take-home | West Virginia take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,355 | $41,409 | −$946 |
| $75,000 | $61,593 | $59,610 | −$1,983 |
| $100,000Headline | $79,180 | $75,999 | −$3,181 |
| $150,000 | $113,791 | $108,200 | −$5,591 |
| $200,000 | $148,927 | $140,926 | −$8,001 |
| $500,000 | $340,477 | $318,015 | −$22,462 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 20.8% in Alaska vs 24% in West Virginia. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Alaska vs West Virginia
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Alaska | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $0 | $3,181 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $79,180 | $75,999 |
| Effective total tax rate | 20.8% | 24% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,598 | $6,333 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~1.82% (Alaska) vs ~6.6% (West Virginia); effective property tax ~0.94% vs ~0.51%.
Pros & cons: Alaska vs West Virginia
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Alaska
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs West Virginia's state tax
- About $3,181/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs West Virginia
- Lower combined sales tax (~1.82% vs ~6.6% in West Virginia)
- Higher median household income ($83,200 ACS 2024 vs $54,200)
Cons
- −Higher effective property tax (~0.94% vs ~0.51% in West Virginia)
- −Higher cost of living index (129 vs 87.9; 100 = US average)
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
West Virginia
Pros
- Lower effective property tax (~0.51% vs ~0.94% in Alaska)
- Lower cost of living index (87.9 vs 129; 100 = US average)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
Cons
- −State income tax (Progressive (top 4.82%)) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $3,181/year less take-home at $100k vs Alaska
- −Higher combined sales tax (~6.6% vs ~1.82% in Alaska)
- −Lower median household income ($54,200 ACS 2024 vs $83,200)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Alaska wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Alaska: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs West Virginia's state tax
- Alaska: About $3,181/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs West Virginia
- West Virginia: Lower effective property tax (~0.51% vs ~0.94% in Alaska)
- West Virginia: Lower cost of living index (87.9 vs 129; 100 = US average)
How we calculate Alaska vs West Virginia
Tax engine. Federal income tax uses 2026 IRS brackets and the standard deduction for a single filer. FICA includes Social Security and Medicare employee shares. State income tax applies Alaska's and West Virginia's rules as modeled in our US calculator (No state income tax (0%) vs Progressive (top 4.82%)).
What's included. Wage income only — no capital gains, self-employment tax, itemized deductions, credits, or local city wage taxes (e.g. NYC) unless noted. Sales tax (~1.82% vs ~6.6%) and property tax (~0.94% vs ~0.51%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (129 vs 87.9, 100 = US average) and median household income ($83,200 vs $54,200) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Alaska → West Virginia relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Alaska vs West Virginia taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Alaska → West Virginia?
Model cost-of-living equivalent salary, or open each state's paycheck calculator with your filing status and deductions.
Related tools
Estimates only for tax year 2026. Not tax advice — verify with your state tax agency or a CPA before relocating. Figures assume a single filer with the standard deduction and no dependents.