New York vs Pennsylvania take-home pay
Tax year 2026 · Last updated:
Same salary, different state tax rules. This guide explains how TakeHome models New York versus Pennsylvania paychecks for tax year 2026 — a common Northeast offer and cross-border commuting comparison.
Quick tax snapshot
Focus on the income-tax and FICA slice. Housing, sales tax, and benefits are outside this table.
| Topic | New York | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| State personal income tax | Progressive state income tax (NYC local tax optional and not always applied) | Provisional flat 3.07% state income tax path |
| Federal income tax + FICA | Included | Included |
| Notable payroll omissions | Some credits, locality edge cases, and NYC details may be simplified or omitted — provisional, not verified | Local EIT and LST are NOT included — Philly and many PA towns add local wage tax outside this model |
| Best use of this pair | NY / NYC-area offer checks against a flat-state-tax neighbor | PA state-tax baseline (without local EIT/LST) for Northeast offer sketches |
What usually changes by salary band
Directional only for a single filer with matching gross — not a payroll quote.
- $90,000 — Federal + FICA dominate; progressive NY tax is already a larger modeled slice than PA’s flat 3.07%.
- $120,000 — Common professional band. Easy to Compare with matching pay frequency across both offers.
- $150,000–180,000 — Higher bands. Progressive NY tax tends to widen the modeled gap; NYC local rules and PA EIT/LST still need careful real-world setup.
What this comparison does not decide
- Housing and commuting across the NY–PA corridor can outweigh paycheck tax differences.
- Bonus, equity, and benefits change total compensation.
- NYC local tax depends on residency and work location — configure carefully in the calculator.
- Pennsylvania local EIT/LST are not modeled — do not treat PA take-home as complete for Philly or other taxing localities.
Run the numbers
Open either state calculator with a pre-selected state, or use the full tool’s Compare mode with identical salary and pay frequency.
FAQ
Is Pennsylvania always higher take-home than New York at the same salary?
For the same gross W-2 wages, New York’s progressive state tax often produces a lower modeled take-home than Pennsylvania’s flat 3.07% path. NYC local tax can widen that further on the NY side, while PA local EIT/LST (omitted here) can shrink a real Philly gap. Use Compare for the state-tax slice only.
Does this page include NYC local tax or PA local EIT/LST?
NYC local tax is optional in the calculator and depends on your residency setup. Pennsylvania local EIT and LST are not included at all. Configure NYC carefully, and treat PA locals as an external add-on when relevant.
How important is matching pay frequency in Compare mode?
Very. Biweekly versus semi-monthly (or monthly) changes per-paycheck amounts even when annual gross matches. Always align salary, filing status, and pay frequency in Compare before reading the gap.
How do I compare the same offer in both states?
Open the full calculator, switch to Compare, set Offer A to New York and Offer B to Pennsylvania, and match salary, filing status, and pay frequency.
Should I relocate or commute based on this page alone?
No. This page is an educational tax-slice guide. Cross-border housing, family, career, and local wage taxes need their own review.
Want the full rules and omissions list? Read the methodology