Iowa 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
Washington
Extra take-home / year
$3,185
Per month
$265
Over 10 years
$31,850
Moving from Iowa → Washington 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 | Iowa | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 3.80% · Flat 3.80% | 0% · No state income tax (0%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~6.94% | ~9.57% |
| Effective property tax | ~1.33% | ~0.75% |
| Cost of living index | 88.6 | 114.6 |
| Median household income | $72,800 | $90,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 4.2% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Iowa rate structure
Flat 3.80% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Washington rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
Overview
Iowa has flat 3.80%, while Washington has no state income tax. Moving from Iowa to Washington saves about $3,185/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~6.94% vs ~9.57%. Property tax: ~1.33% vs ~0.75%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $72,800 vs $90,800.
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 Iowa.
| Gross | Iowa take-home | Washington take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,455 | $42,048 | +$1,593 |
| $75,000 | $58,743 | $61,131 | +$2,388 |
| $100,000Headline | $75,380 | $78,565 | +$3,185 |
| $150,000 | $108,091 | $112,869 | +$4,778 |
| $200,000 | $141,327 | $147,697 | +$6,370 |
| $500,000 | $321,477 | $337,402 | +$15,925 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 24.6% in Iowa vs 21.4% in Washington. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Iowa vs Washington
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Iowa | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $3,800 | $0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $75,380 | $78,565 |
| Effective total tax rate | 24.6% | 21.4% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,282 | $6,547 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~6.94% (Iowa) vs ~9.57% (Washington); effective property tax ~1.33% vs ~0.75%.
Pros & cons: Iowa vs Washington
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Iowa
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~6.94% vs ~9.57% in Washington)
- Lower cost of living index (88.6 vs 114.6; 100 = US average)
- Lower unemployment rate (2.9% vs 4.2%)
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 3.80%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $3,185/year less take-home at $100k vs Washington
- −Higher effective property tax (~1.33% vs ~0.75% in Washington)
- −Lower median household income ($72,800 ACS 2024 vs $90,800)
Washington
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Iowa's state tax
- About $3,185/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Iowa
- Lower effective property tax (~0.75% vs ~1.33% in Iowa)
- Higher median household income ($90,800 ACS 2024 vs $72,800)
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~9.57% vs ~6.94% in Iowa)
- −Higher cost of living index (114.6 vs 88.6; 100 = US average)
- −Higher unemployment rate (4.2% vs 2.9%)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Washington wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Iowa: Lower combined sales tax (~6.94% vs ~9.57% in Washington)
- Iowa: Lower cost of living index (88.6 vs 114.6; 100 = US average)
- Washington: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Iowa's state tax
- Washington: About $3,185/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Iowa
How we calculate Iowa 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 Iowa's and Washington's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 3.80% 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 (~6.94% vs ~9.57%) and property tax (~1.33% vs ~0.75%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (88.6 vs 114.6, 100 = US average) and median household income ($72,800 vs $90,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Iowa → Washington relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Iowa vs Washington taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Iowa → 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.