New Jersey vs Pennsylvania: take-home pay compared
On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $1,110 more per year in Pennsylvania than in New Jersey — from state income tax alone. Compare any salary below.
- Federal income tax
- $13,170
- FICA
- $7,650
- State income tax
- $4,180
- Effective rate
- 25%
- Federal income tax
- $13,170
- FICA
- $7,650
- State income tax
- $3,070
- Effective rate
- 23.89%
On a $100,000 salary, you keep $1,110 more per year in Pennsylvania than in New Jersey — that’s $93/month of difference, purely from state income tax.
To match Pennsylvania’s $76,110 take-home while living in New Jersey, you’d need to earn about $101,735 — a $1,735 raise.
Compares state income tax only (federal tax and FICA are identical in both states). It does notinclude property tax, sales tax, or local/city income taxes — a state with no income tax (e.g. Texas, Florida) often makes up revenue through higher property or sales tax, so the income-tax winner isn’t always the cheaper place to live. 2026 estimate, standard deduction, not tax advice.
New Jersey vs Pennsylvania take-home pay, by salary
Annual take-home pay for a single filer in 2026, after federal, FICA, and state income tax.
| Salary | New Jersey | Pennsylvania | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $41,140 | $40,820 | +$320 NJ |
| $75,000 | $58,997 | $59,290 | −$293 PA |
| $100,000 | $75,000 | $76,110 | −$1,110 PA |
| $150,000 | $106,426 | $109,186 | −$2,760 PA |
| $200,000 | $138,377 | $142,787 | −$4,410 PA |
| $250,000 | $169,447 | $175,507 | −$6,060 PA |
FAQ
- Do you pay less tax in New Jersey or Pennsylvania?
- On a $100,000 salary, a single filer keeps about $1,110 more per year in Pennsylvania than in New Jersey, looking at state income tax alone. The gap grows or shrinks with income — use the calculator above for your salary.
- Does this include property and sales tax?
- No. This compares state income tax only. Federal income tax and FICA are the same in both states.
- What about moving mid-year?
- In the year you move, you typically file part-year resident returns in both states and split your income by your move date — so your first-year savings are smaller than a full-year comparison suggests.