Paycheck Calculator by City (2026)
Most US cities take nothing out of your paycheck. A few take quite a lot — and it rarely shows up in a salary negotiation until the first payslip lands. Here is every city we track, what it charges, and what you actually keep.
Updated October 2026
Cities that tax your wages
Ranked by effective local rate on a $75,000 salary, resident rate. The $150,000 column matters because a few cities tax only higher incomes.
| City | State | Local tax on $75k | Effective rate | Local tax on $150k | Take-home on $75k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | $2,813 | 3.75% | $5,625 | $56,478 |
| New York City | New York | $2,472 | 3.30% | $5,379 | $55,600 |
| Baltimore | Maryland | $2,314 | 3.08% | $4,714 | $55,897 |
| Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | $2,250 | 3.00% | $4,500 | $57,040 |
| Columbus | Ohio | $1,875 | 2.50% | $3,750 | $58,371 |
| Cleveland | Ohio | $1,875 | 2.50% | $3,750 | $58,371 |
| Toledo | Ohio | $1,875 | 2.50% | $3,750 | $58,371 |
| Detroit | Michigan | $1,800 | 2.40% | $3,600 | $56,852 |
| Lexington | Kentucky | $1,688 | 2.25% | $3,375 | $57,394 |
| Louisville | Kentucky | $1,650 | 2.20% | $3,300 | $57,432 |
| Indianapolis | Indiana | $1,495 | 1.99% | $3,010 | $57,878 |
| Cincinnati | Ohio | $1,350 | 1.80% | $2,700 | $58,896 |
| Grand Rapids | Michigan | $1,125 | 1.50% | $2,250 | $57,527 |
| Wilmington | Delaware | $938 | 1.25% | $1,875 | $56,936 |
| Kansas City | Missouri | $750 | 1.00% | $1,500 | $58,250 |
| St. Louis | Missouri | $750 | 1.00% | $1,500 | $58,250 |
| Birmingham | Alabama | $750 | 1.00% | $1,500 | $57,283 |
| Philadelphia Suburbs | Pennsylvania | $750 | 1.00% | $1,500 | $58,540 |
| Yonkers | New York | $590 | 0.79% | $1,332 | $57,483 |
| Denver | Colorado | $69 | 0.09% | $69 | $58,932 |
| Aurora | Colorado | $24 | 0.03% | $24 | $58,977 |
| Portland | Oregon | $0 | 0.00% | $625 | $55,587 |
Portland charges nothing on an ordinary salary — the local tax only starts above a high-income threshold, which is why the $75,000 column reads zero.
Big cities with no local income tax
The answer here is “nothing extra comes out” — but it is asked often enough, and the state-level detail differs enough, to be worth its own page.
Why so few US cities tax income
Local income taxes need state permission, and most states never granted it. The ones that did — Ohio and Pennsylvania above all — did so decades ago, which is why the map looks so lopsided today: Ohio alone has hundreds of municipalities levying an income tax, while California, with forty million people, has none.
The practical consequence is that moving a short distance can change your take-home more than a raise would. Crossing out of Philadelphia into a Montgomery County township is worth roughly two and a half percent of gross. Moving from Manhattan to New Jersey removes the New York City tax entirely, though New York State still taxes the income you earn there.
What to check on your own payslip
- The city named on the stub. Payroll withholds for the city it has on file, which may be your old address.
- Resident vs non-resident rate. Detroit, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh all charge two different rates — being on the wrong one costs real money in both directions.
- School district lines. In Pennsylvania and Ohio the school district levy is separate from the city one and the boundaries do not always match.
- Remote work. If you moved out of a taxing city but your employer is still there, the rules vary by state. This is the single most common source of surprise bills.
Frequently asked questions
Which US cities have a local income tax?
Only a minority do, and they cluster in a handful of states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland, Alabama, Delaware, New York and Oregon. Everywhere else — including all of California, Texas, Florida, Washington and Illinois — your paycheck sees federal, FICA and state tax only. This page lists 22 cities that do tax wages, highest effective rate first.
Which city has the highest local wage tax?
Philadelphia leads on an ordinary salary: 3.75% of gross on $75,000, worth $2,813 a year. Philadelphia's headline rate is the best known, but Pittsburgh's combined city-plus-school-district rate and Baltimore's county tax are close behind.
Do I pay city tax where I live or where I work?
It depends on the city, and this is the single most common mistake. Ohio and Pennsylvania cities generally tax where the work is performed, so commuters pay. New York City taxes residents only — commuters pay nothing. Detroit and Philadelphia charge both, at different rates. Each city page below spells out which rule applies.
Is local tax withheld automatically?
Usually, if your employer is registered in that city. But it is a common payroll gap when you move house, work remotely, or your employer is based elsewhere. If you have moved into or out of a taxing city and your payslip has not changed, tell payroll — otherwise you will owe it in a lump at filing time.
Paycheck calculators by state
Local tax is the last layer. For federal, FICA and state brackets in full, start with the paycheck calculator by state.