H1B Salary After Tax Calculator
See your take home pay on H1B in any US state. H1B salary after tax uses the same federal, state, and FICA rules as US residents—this calculator gives you an accurate H1B take home pay estimate by state. Try 130k salary take home California H1B, Texas, New York, or any state.
Tax Exemptions
Toggle off any taxes that don't apply to your situation
Federal tax based on your income bracket
Select a state to see rate
Applies to wages up to $168,600
Additional 0.9% applies to income over $200k/$250k
Income that is not subject to federal income tax (e.g., municipal bond interest, certain benefits)
Eligible for Child Tax Credit ($2,000 per child)
An H1B salary calculator answers two needs: how much you take home (H1B salary after tax) and whether your offer meets the H1B minimum salary (prevailing wage). This tool shows take-home by state—federal, state, and FICA—for any salary you enter. Below we explain how the H1B prevailing wage calculator and H1B wage level calculator work, what each wage level means, and how H1B salary by state affects your net pay.
What Is the H1B Minimum Salary Requirement?
Your employer must pay at least the H1B prevailing wage for your job title, worksite, and wage level. That amount is your H1B minimum salary for compliance—the floor, not a target. The wage is set by the Department of Labor using occupation (SOC code), worksite (metro or state), and level (1–4). Benefits and bonus typically do not count toward the required wage; base salary must meet or exceed the prevailing wage.
To check compliance: use an H1B prevailing wage calculator or the DOL FLAG system to look up the prevailing wage, then confirm your offer meets it. To see take-home: use this H1B salary calculator for your H1B salary after tax by state. H1B salary requirements 2026 follow the same DOL framework. When comparing offers or relocating, use our Offer Comparison Calculator and Relocation Salary Calculator.
H1B Prevailing Wage Levels Explained
The DOL defines four H1B prevailing wage levels. Each level is tied to a percentile of wages for that occupation and area: e.g. Level 1 is the wage at or below which 17% of workers in that job and location are paid (entry-level); Level 4 is the 67th percentile (fully competent). An H1B wage level calculator or the DOL FLAG system returns a dollar amount for each level. Your employer chooses the level on the LCA based on job duties, education, and experience requirements.
| Level | What it means | Wage percentile | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Entry; basic understanding, routine tasks | 17th | New grads, first specialty role |
| Level 2 | Qualified; moderate experience, some judgment | 34th | Mid-level, most common |
| Level 3 | Experienced; independent work, broad responsibility | 50th (median) | Senior individual contributors |
| Level 4 | Fully competent; expert, supervisory or lead role | 67th | Staff/principal, managers |
H1B prevailing wage levels explained: H1B Level 1 salary and H1B Level 2 salary in the same role and metro often differ by 15–25% or more (e.g. software developer in San Francisco). Confirm your level on the LCA; then use this H1B salary calculator to see take-home for your wage.
How to Determine Your H1B Wage Level
Your wage level is set by your employer on the LCA (Labor Condition Application) based on job duties and requirements. The DOL does not publish a single formula; employers (or their attorneys) use factors such as education required, years of experience, degree of supervision, and complexity of the role. Level 1 usually fits entry-level or routine work; Level 2 and above reflect increasing independence and responsibility.
- Check your LCA or offer letter for the designated wage level (1–4).
- Look up the prevailing wage for your SOC code, worksite, and that level using the DOL FLAG system or a certified H1B prevailing wage calculator.
- Ensure your base salary is at least that amount.
- Use the H1B salary calculator above to see H1B salary after tax by state.
H1B Salary After Tax
H1B salary after tax is the same as for US residents: federal income tax (brackets and filing status), state income tax (if your state has it), and FICA (Social Security and Medicare). There is no separate H1B tax. Federal tax depends on income and filing status; state tax ranges from 0% (e.g. H1B Texas salary) to roughly 6–10% effective on six-figure income in California or New York (H1B California salary).
Use the calculator at the top for your salary and state. For bonus or RSU, see our Bonus Tax Calculator and RSU Tax Calculator. For a single state, use our state paycheck calculator (US Tax Calculator).
Comparing H1B Salary in Different States
H1B salary by state differs mainly because of state income tax. Nine states have no state income tax on wages (e.g. Texas, Florida, Washington), so the same gross salary yields higher take-home there than in California or New York. Use this H1B salary calculator and switch states to compare H1B California salary vs H1B Texas salary or any other pair. For cost of living by city, use our Relocation Salary Calculator.
H1B Transfer and Salary Compliance
When you transfer, the new employer must pay at least the prevailing wage for the new role and worksite. H1B transfer salary requirements are the same as for initial H1B: the wage on the new LCA must be met or exceeded. The new salary does not have to be higher than your current one, but it must satisfy the new LCA. Use this H1B salary calculator to model H1B salary after tax at the new employer and our Offer Comparison Calculator if you have multiple offers.
Real Example: $130K in California vs $130K in Texas
| State | ~State income tax (annual) | ~Take-home (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| California | ~$8,500–$9,500 | ~$95,000–$97,500 |
| Texas | $0 | ~$98,500–$101,000 |
Common H1B Salary Mistakes
- Comparing on gross only. A $130k offer in Texas can net more than $135k in California. Use this H1B salary calculator for H1B salary by state.
- Counting bonus toward prevailing wage. DOL wage is usually base salary; confirm with your employer.
- Wrong wage level. Level 1 vs Level 2 can mean a large gap; ensure the level matches your experience.
- Ignoring FICA. Social Security and Medicare apply to H1B workers the same as residents.
- Ignoring cost of living. Use our Relocation Salary Calculator for real purchasing power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Official H1B & Tax Sources
- DOL FLAG — Prevailing wage: flag.dol.gov — Department of Labor Foreign Labor Application Gateway; use the Online Wage Library to look up prevailing wage by occupation (SOC), worksite, and wage level (1–4).
- DOL — H-1B program: dol.gov/agencies/whd/immigration/h1b — Wage and Hour Division guidance on H1B wages, LCA, and compliance.
- USCIS — H-1B specialty occupations: uscis.gov/.../h-1b-specialty-occupations — Official visa and petition requirements.
- IRS — Tax withholding and forms: irs.gov — Federal income tax, W-4, and publications. For a summary of tax sources we use in our calculators, see our Sources page.
This page is for estimation only. Consult your employer or immigration attorney for your situation.