Ohio vs 
Wisconsin
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
Ohio
Extra take-home / year
$2,251
Per month
$188
Over 10 years
$22,510
Moving from Wisconsin → Ohio 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 | Ohio | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 2.75% · Flat 2.75% | 7.65% · Progressive (top 7.65%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~7.29% | ~5.72% |
| Effective property tax | ~1.36% | ~1.32% |
| Cost of living index | 93.7 | 97.4 |
| Median household income | $67,800 | $74,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | 3% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Ohio rate structure
Flat 2.75% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Wisconsin rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 7.65%.
Overview
Ohio (Flat 2.75%) vs Wisconsin (Progressive (top 7.65%)). At $100,000 gross (single), Ohio typically leaves you with about $2,251 more take-home than Wisconsin after federal, state, and FICA. Sales tax ~7.29% vs ~5.72%; property tax ~1.36% vs ~1.32%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $67,800 vs $74,800.
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 Wisconsin minus Ohio.
| Gross | Ohio take-home | Wisconsin take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $41,762 | $40,786 | −$976 |
| $75,000 | $60,312 | $58,698 | −$1,614 |
| $100,000Headline | $77,212 | $74,961 | −$2,251 |
| $150,000 | $110,448 | $106,922 | −$3,526 |
| $200,000 | $144,209 | $139,408 | −$4,801 |
| $500,000 | $327,509 | $311,025 | −$16,484 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 22.8% in Ohio vs 25% in Wisconsin. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Ohio vs Wisconsin
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Ohio | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $1,968 | $4,219 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $77,212 | $74,961 |
| Effective total tax rate | 22.8% | 25% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,434 | $6,247 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~7.29% (Ohio) vs ~5.72% (Wisconsin); effective property tax ~1.36% vs ~1.32%.
Pros & cons: Ohio vs Wisconsin
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Ohio
Pros
- Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.75%) than Wisconsin (Progressive (top 7.65%))
- About $2,251/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Wisconsin
- Lower cost of living index (93.7 vs 97.4; 100 = US average)
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~7.29% vs ~5.72% in Wisconsin)
- −Lower median household income ($67,800 ACS 2024 vs $74,800)
- −Higher unemployment rate (3.8% vs 3%)
Wisconsin
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~5.72% vs ~7.29% in Ohio)
- Higher median household income ($74,800 ACS 2024 vs $67,800)
- Lower unemployment rate (3% vs 3.8%)
Cons
- −State income tax (Progressive (top 7.65%)) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $2,251/year less take-home at $100k vs Ohio
- −Higher cost of living index (97.4 vs 93.7; 100 = US average)
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Ohio wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Ohio: Lower top/marginal state rate (Flat 2.75%) than Wisconsin (Progressive (top 7.65%))
- Ohio: About $2,251/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Wisconsin
- Wisconsin: Lower combined sales tax (~5.72% vs ~7.29% in Ohio)
- Wisconsin: Higher median household income ($74,800 ACS 2024 vs $67,800)
How we calculate Ohio vs Wisconsin
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 Ohio's and Wisconsin's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 2.75% vs Progressive (top 7.65%)).
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 (~7.29% vs ~5.72%) and property tax (~1.36% vs ~1.32%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (93.7 vs 97.4, 100 = US average) and median household income ($67,800 vs $74,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Ohio → Wisconsin relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Ohio vs Wisconsin taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Ohio → Wisconsin?
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.