Massachusetts vs 
Pennsylvania
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
Pennsylvania
Extra take-home / year
$2,810
Per month
$234
Over 10 years
$28,100
Moving from Massachusetts → Pennsylvania 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 | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 5% · Flat 5% | 3.07% · Flat 3.07% |
| Combined sales tax | ~6.25% | ~6.34% |
| Effective property tax | ~1% | ~1.26% |
| Cost of living index | 147.8 | 96.2 |
| Median household income | $97,200 | $72,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.5% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Massachusetts rate structure
Flat 5% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Pennsylvania rate structure
Flat 3.07% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Overview
Massachusetts (Flat 5%) vs Pennsylvania (Flat 3.07%). At $100,000 gross (single), Pennsylvania typically leaves you with about $2,810 more take-home than Massachusetts after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~6.25% vs ~6.34%; property tax ~1% vs ~1.26%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $97,200 vs $72,800.
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 Pennsylvania minus Massachusetts.
| Gross | Massachusetts take-home | Pennsylvania take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $39,415 | $40,820 | +$1,405 |
| $75,000 | $57,183 | $59,290 | +$2,107 |
| $100,000Headline | $73,300 | $76,110 | +$2,810 |
| $150,000 | $104,971 | $109,186 | +$4,215 |
| $200,000 | $137,167 | $142,787 | +$5,620 |
| $500,000 | $311,077 | $325,127 | +$14,050 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 26.7% in Massachusetts vs 23.9% in Pennsylvania. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Massachusetts | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $5,000 | $3,070 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $73,300 | $76,110 |
| Effective total tax rate | 26.7% | 23.9% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,108 | $6,343 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~6.25% (Massachusetts) vs ~6.34% (Pennsylvania); effective property tax ~1% vs ~1.26%.
Pros & cons: Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Massachusetts
Pros
- Lower effective property tax (~1% vs ~1.26% in Pennsylvania)
- Higher median household income ($97,200 ACS 2024 vs $72,800)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 5%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $2,810/year less take-home at $100k vs Pennsylvania
- −Higher cost of living index (147.8 vs 96.2; 100 = US average)
Pennsylvania
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 3.07%) than Massachusetts (Flat 5%)
- About $2,810/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Massachusetts
- Lower cost of living index (96.2 vs 147.8; 100 = US average)
Cons
- −Higher effective property tax (~1.26% vs ~1% in Massachusetts)
- −Lower median household income ($72,800 ACS 2024 vs $97,200)
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Pennsylvania wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Massachusetts: Lower effective property tax (~1% vs ~1.26% in Pennsylvania)
- Massachusetts: Higher median household income ($97,200 ACS 2024 vs $72,800)
- Pennsylvania: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 3.07%) than Massachusetts (Flat 5%)
- Pennsylvania: About $2,810/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Massachusetts
How we calculate Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania
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 Massachusetts's and Pennsylvania's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 5% vs Flat 3.07%).
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 (~6.25% vs ~6.34%) and property tax (~1% vs ~1.26%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (147.8 vs 96.2, 100 = US average) and median household income ($97,200 vs $72,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Massachusetts → Pennsylvania relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Massachusetts vs Pennsylvania taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Massachusetts → Pennsylvania?
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.