H-1B · State comparison · 2026
On $180,000, a H-1B keeps $240 more per year in New Jersey than in New York (0.13% of gross).
Side-by-side breakdown
| Line item | New York | New Jersey | Δ (New Jersey − New York) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | $180,000 | $180,000 | — |
| Federal income tax | $31,934 | $31,934 | — |
| Social Security | $11,160 | $11,160 | — |
| Medicare | $2,610 | $2,610 | — |
| Additional Medicare | $0 | $0 | — |
| State income tax | $9,580 | $9,340 | −$240 |
| State SDI / payroll | $0 | $0 | — |
| Take-home pay | $124,716 | $124,956 | +$240 |
Effective rate: New York 30.71% · New Jersey 30.58%. Δ row reads "New Jersey minus New York" — positive (red) means New Jersey 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. New Jersey: which has lower taxes for a H-1B earning $180,000?
For a single-filer H-1B grossing $180,000, New Jersey nets approximately $240 more per year (0.13% of gross) than New York. New Jersey take-home: $124,956. New York take-home: $124,716.
What's driving the difference between New York and New Jersey?
New York uses progressive state brackets. New Jersey 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 H-1B?
H-1B holders are subject to FICA from day 1, regardless of NRA status. The state comparison above already reflects that.