Throughout the 2024 campaign trail and continuing after his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has floated the notion of discontinuing the federal income tax, suggesting the income could be made up by his institution of tariffs against America’s trade partners. His latest proposal is to remove income tax for earners below $150,000.
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Despite the fact that many economists have warned that America would not be able to afford the dismantling of the income tax, it does provoke some curiosity: What would life be like without the income tax taking a bite out of our paycheck?
GOBankingRates sought out the answers, compiling a state-by-state study that measured the incomes, tax burdens and average upper-middle-class paychecks across the country.
Curious what your check might look like without income taxes? Keep reading.
Alabama
Median income for upper-middle class: $110,271
Current tax burden for single filer: 27.1%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,093
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.8%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,036
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Alaska
Median income for upper-middle class: $158,820
Current tax burden for single filer: 25.1%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,578
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,108
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Arizona
Median income for upper-middle class: $136,662
Current tax burden for single filer: 26.2%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,878
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 2.2%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,139
Arkansas
Median income for upper-middle class: $104,486
Current tax burden for single filer: 26.0%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $2,973
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.2%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,851
California
Median income for upper-middle class: $171,261
Current tax burden for single filer: 32.6%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,440
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 7.05%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,122
Colorado
Median income for upper-middle class: $164,392
Current tax burden for single filer: 29.3%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,470
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,069
Connecticut
Median income for upper-middle class: $166,685
Current tax burden for single filer: 30.6%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,448
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.3%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,074
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Delaware
Median income for upper-middle class: $147,298
Current tax burden for single filer: 30.3%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,948
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.8%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,339
Florida
Median income for upper-middle class: $127,487
Current tax burden for single filer: 23.4%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,754
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,903
Georgia
Median income for upper-middle class: $132,737
Current tax burden for single filer: 28.8%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,637
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,850
Hawaii
Median income for upper-middle class: $174,786
Current tax burden for single filer: 33.5%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,472
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 7.8%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,197
Idaho
Median income for upper-middle class: $132,687
Current tax burden for single filer: 28.7%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,637
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,850
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Illinois
Median income for upper-middle class: $145,249
Current tax burden for single filer: 29.4%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,944
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,310
Indiana
Median income for upper-middle class: $124,536
Current tax burden for single filer: 26.3%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,530
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.1%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,644
Iowa
Median income for upper-middle class: $130,040
Current tax burden for single filer: 29.1%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,547
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.5%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,728
Kansas
Median income for upper-middle class: $129,137
Current tax burden for single filer: 28.7%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,539
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.2%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,709
Kentucky
Median income for upper-middle class: $110,964
Current tax burden for single filer: 26.2%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,150
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.9%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,102
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Louisiana
Median household income: $106,708
Current tax burden for single filer: 25.7%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,049
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.7%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,952
Maine
Median income for upper-middle class: $127,597
Current tax burden for single filer: 29.4%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,465
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.9%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,616
Maryland
Median income for upper-middle class: $180,715
Current tax burden for single filer: 30.7%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,825
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.9%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,612
Massachusetts
Median income for upper-middle class: $180,162
Current tax burden for single filer: 30.8%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,802
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,583
Michigan
Median income for upper-middle class: $126,488
Current tax burden for single filer: 27.6%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,521
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.3%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,658
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Minnesota
Median income for upper-middle class: $155,656
Current tax burden for single filer: 31.1%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,128
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 6.1%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,621
Mississippi
Median income for upper-middle class: $97,627
Current tax burden for single filer: 25.4%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $2,801
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.1%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,601
Missouri
Median income for upper-middle class: $122,525
Current tax burden for single filer: 27.2%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,431
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.1%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,520
Montana
Median income for upper-middle class: $124,306
Current tax burden for single filer: 28.2%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,431
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,542
Nebraska
Median income for upper-middle class: $133,307
Current tax burden for single filer: 28.8%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,651
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,871
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Nevada
Median income for upper-middle class: $134,331
Current tax burden for single filer: 23.9%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,934
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,167
New Hampshire
Median income for upper-middle class: $170,006
Current tax burden for single filer: 25.5%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,872
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,539
New Jersey
Median income for upper-middle class: $179,645
Current tax burden for single filer: 31.0%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,775
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.2%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,551
New Mexico
Median income for upper-middle class: $110,445
Current tax burden for single filer: 26.3%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,132
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,078
New York
Median income for upper-middle class: $150,361
Current tax burden for single filer: 30.0%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,048
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.3%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,476
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North Carolina
Median income for upper-middle class: $124,274
Current tax burden for single filer: 27.3%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,476
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,587
North Dakota
Median income for upper-middle class: $135,021
Current tax burden for single filer: 25.0%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,895
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 1.1%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,136
Ohio
Median income for upper-middle class: $123,876
Current tax burden for single filer: 25.6%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,546
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 2.4%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,652
Oklahoma
Median income for upper-middle class: $113,073
Current tax burden for single filer: 26.8%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,186
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.3%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,161
Oregon
Median income for upper-middle class: $142,980
Current tax burden for single filer: 32.8%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,694
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 8.5%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,032
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Pennsylvania
Median income for upper-middle class: $135,256
Current tax burden for single filer: 27.0%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,798
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.1%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,042
Rhode Island
Median income for upper-middle class: $153,551
Current tax burden for single filer: 28.8%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,208
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.9%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,674
South Carolina
Median income for upper-middle class: $118,788
Current tax burden for single filer: 27.9%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,295
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,339
South Dakota
Median income for upper-middle class: $128,749
Current tax burden for single filer: 23.5%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,787
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,952
Tennessee
Median income for upper-middle class: $119,284
Current tax burden for single filer: 22.9%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,538
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,588
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Texas
Median income for upper-middle class: $135,631
Current tax burden for single filer: 23.9%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,968
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,217
Utah
Median income for upper-middle class: $163,112
Current tax burden for single filer: 29.9%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,400
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.6%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,983
Vermont
Median income for upper-middle class: $138,710
Current tax burden for single filer: 29.5%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,763
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.4%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,049
Virginia
Median income for upper-middle class: $161,732
Current tax burden for single filer: 30.5%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,324
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.3%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,890
Washington
Median income for upper-middle class: $168,804
Current tax burden for single filer: 25.5%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,840
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,492
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West Virginia
Median income for upper-middle class: $102,964
Current tax burden for single filer: 26.0%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $2,931
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.3%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,792
Wisconsin
Median income for upper-middle class: $134,525
Current tax burden for single filer: 28.4%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,707
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.5%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,942
Wyoming
Median income for upper-middle class: $133,005
Current tax burden for single filer: 23.8%
Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,899
State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,116
Methodology: To generate the income tax for every state, GOBankingRates first found upper-middle-class median income based on 2023 American Community Survey median household figures. Income tax estimates were created by using an in-house calculator for a single filer using the standard deduction (with 2024 tax brackets). Once the income taxes (federal and state) were calculated as an annual amount, GOBankingRates found each state’s (1) total annual income taxes paid; (2) total income tax burden; (3) amount taken out of bi-weekly paycheck; and (4) bi-weekly paycheck amount. GOBankingRates then took these figures and removed the federal income taxes (including FICA) to see what upper-middle-class paychecks would look like by state without federal income taxes. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 3, 2025.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Paychecks for Upper-Middle Class Would Look in Each State If Trump Dropped Income Tax
