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