F-1 OPT · State comparison · 2026
On $120,000, a F-1 OPT keeps $8,643 more per year in Washington than in California (7.20% of gross).
Side-by-side breakdown
| Line item | Washington | California | Δ (California − Washington) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $120,000 | $120,000 | — |
| Federal income tax | $21,398 | $21,398 | — |
| Social Security | $0 | $0 | — |
| Medicare | $0 | $0 | — |
| Additional Medicare | $0 | $0 | — |
| State income tax | $0 | $7,083 | +$7,083 |
| State SDI / payroll | $0 | $1,560 | +$1,560 |
| Take-home pay | $98,602 | $89,959 | −$8,643 |
Effective rate: Washington 17.83% · California 25.03%. Δ row reads "California minus Washington" — positive (red) means California is more expensive.
Compare at other salaries
Frequently asked questions
Specific to this visa, state, and salary. Sourced to IRS, SSA, and state DOR.
Washington vs. California: which has lower taxes for a F-1 OPT earning $120,000?
For a single-filer F-1 OPT grossing $120,000, Washington nets approximately $8,643 more per year (7.20% of gross) than California. Washington take-home: $98,602. California take-home: $89,959.
What's driving the difference between Washington and California?
Washington has no state income tax. California uses progressive state brackets. 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.