F-1 OPT · State comparison · 2026
On $280,000, a F-1 OPT keeps $16,017 more per year in Florida than in New York (5.72% of gross).
Side-by-side breakdown
| Line item | New York | Florida | Δ (Florida − New York) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $280,000 | $280,000 | — |
| Federal income tax | $66,769 | $66,769 | — |
| Social Security | $0 | $0 | — |
| Medicare | $0 | $0 | — |
| Additional Medicare | $0 | $0 | — |
| State income tax | $16,017 | $0 | −$16,017 |
| State SDI / payroll | $0 | $0 | — |
| Take-home pay | $197,213 | $213,231 | +$16,017 |
Effective rate: New York 29.57% · Florida 23.85%. Δ row reads "Florida minus New York" — positive (red) means Florida is more expensive.
Compare at other salaries
Frequently asked questions
Specific to this visa, state, and salary. Sourced to IRS, SSA, and state DOR.
New York vs. Florida: which has lower taxes for a F-1 OPT earning $280,000?
For a single-filer F-1 OPT grossing $280,000, Florida nets approximately $16,017 more per year (5.72% of gross) than New York. Florida take-home: $213,231. New York take-home: $197,213.
What's driving the difference between New York and Florida?
New York uses progressive state brackets. Florida has no state income tax. Federal income tax and FICA are identical in both states (they're federal). The state delta is the difference.
Does cost of living change the answer?
Yes — significantly. This page only computes after-tax income. Housing, transit, taxes on goods (sales tax), and state-specific costs (e.g. auto registration) often dwarf the income-tax difference. As a rough rule: high-tax states tend to have higher cost of living too, so the take-home advantage of a no-tax state often understates the real-purchasing-power advantage.
What about the first year on a F-1 OPT?
F-1 OPT holders are FICA-exempt as nonresident aliens (typically the first 5 calendar years for F-1, 2 for J-1). FICA is $0 in both states. Standard deduction is generally unavailable to NRAs except F-1/J-1 students from India.