Florida vs 
Washington
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
Florida
Extra take-home / year
$615
Per month
$51
Over 10 years
$6,150
Moving from Washington → Florida 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 | Florida | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 0% · No state income tax (0%) | 0% · No state income tax (0%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~6.98% | ~9.57% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.78% | ~0.75% |
| Cost of living index | 100.7 | 114.6 |
| Median household income | $69,800 | $90,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.2% | 4.2% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Florida rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
Washington rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
Overview
Florida and Washington both have no state income tax on wages. At $100,000 gross, take-home differs mainly via local rules and other taxes — sales tax is ~6.98% in Florida vs ~9.57% in Washington; effective property tax ~0.78% vs ~0.75%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $69,800 vs $90,800. COL index: 100.7 vs 114.6.
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 Washington minus Florida.
| Gross | Florida take-home | Washington take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,355 | $42,048 | −$307 |
| $75,000 | $61,593 | $61,131 | −$462 |
| $100,000Headline | $79,180 | $78,565 | −$615 |
| $150,000 | $113,791 | $112,869 | −$922 |
| $200,000 | $148,927 | $147,697 | −$1,230 |
| $500,000 | $340,477 | $337,402 | −$3,075 |
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 Florida vs 21.4% in Washington. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Florida vs Washington
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Florida | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $0 | $0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $79,180 | $78,565 |
| Effective total tax rate | 20.8% | 21.4% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,598 | $6,547 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~6.98% (Florida) vs ~9.57% (Washington); effective property tax ~0.78% vs ~0.75%.
Pros & cons: Florida vs Washington
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Florida
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Washington's state tax
- About $615/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Washington
- Lower combined sales tax (~6.98% vs ~9.57% in Washington)
- Lower cost of living index (100.7 vs 114.6; 100 = US average)
- Lower unemployment rate (3.2% vs 4.2%)
Cons
- −Lower median household income ($69,800 ACS 2024 vs $90,800)
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
- −Housing, insurance, and wages can outweigh pure income-tax differences
Washington
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Florida's state tax
- Higher median household income ($90,800 ACS 2024 vs $69,800)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
Cons
- −Roughly $615/year less take-home at $100k vs Florida
- −Higher combined sales tax (~9.57% vs ~6.98% in Florida)
- −Higher cost of living index (114.6 vs 100.7; 100 = US average)
- −Higher unemployment rate (4.2% vs 3.2%)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Florida wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Florida: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Washington's state tax
- Florida: About $615/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Washington
- Washington: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Florida's state tax
- Washington: Higher median household income ($90,800 ACS 2024 vs $69,800)
How we calculate Florida vs Washington
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 Florida's and Washington's rules as modeled in our US calculator (No state income tax (0%) vs No state income tax (0%)).
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 (~6.98% vs ~9.57%) and property tax (~0.78% vs ~0.75%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (100.7 vs 114.6, 100 = US average) and median household income ($69,800 vs $90,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Florida → Washington relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Florida vs Washington taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Florida → Washington?
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.