How Paychecks for Upper-Middle Class Would Look in Each State If Trump Dropped Income Tax

Throughout the 2024 campaign trail and continuing after his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has floated the notion of discontinuing the federal income tax, suggesting the income could be made up by his institution of tariffs against America’s trade partners. His latest proposal is to remove income tax for earners below $150,000.

Despite the fact that many economists have warned that America would not be able to afford the dismantling of the income tax, it does provoke some curiosity: What would life be like without the income tax taking a bite out of our paycheck?

GOBankingRates sought out the answers, compiling a state-by-state study that measured the incomes, tax burdens and average upper-middle-class paychecks across the country.

Curious what your check might look like without income taxes? Keep reading.

• Median income for upper-middle class: $110,271
• Current tax burden for single filer: 27.1%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,093
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.8%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,036

• Median income for upper-middle class: $158,820
• Current tax burden for single filer: 25.1%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,578
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,108

• Median income for upper-middle class: $136,662
• Current tax burden for single filer: 26.2%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,878
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 2.2%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,139

• Median income for upper-middle class: $104,486
• Current tax burden for single filer: 26.0%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $2,973
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.2%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,851

• Median income for upper-middle class: $171,261
• Current tax burden for single filer: 32.6%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,440
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 7.05%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,122

• Median income for upper-middle class: $164,392
• Current tax burden for single filer: 29.3%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,470
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,069

• Median income for upper-middle class: $166,685
• Current tax burden for single filer: 30.6%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,448
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.3%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,074

• Median income for upper-middle class: $147,298
• Current tax burden for single filer: 30.3%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,948
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.8%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,339

• Median income for upper-middle class: $127,487
• Current tax burden for single filer: 23.4%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,754
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,903

• Median income for upper-middle class: $132,737
• Current tax burden for single filer: 28.8%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,637
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,850

• Median income for upper-middle class: $174,786
• Current tax burden for single filer: 33.5%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,472
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 7.8%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,197

• Median income for upper-middle class: $132,687
• Current tax burden for single filer: 28.7%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,637
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,850

• Median income for upper-middle class: $145,249
• Current tax burden for single filer: 29.4%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,944
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,310

• Median income for upper-middle class: $124,536
• Current tax burden for single filer: 26.3%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,530
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.1%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,644

• Median income for upper-middle class: $130,040
• Current tax burden for single filer: 29.1%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,547
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.5%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,728

• Median income for upper-middle class: $129,137
• Current tax burden for single filer: 28.7%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,539
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.2%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,709

• Median income for upper-middle class: $110,964
• Current tax burden for single filer: 26.2%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,150
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.9%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,102

• Median household income: $106,708
• Current tax burden for single filer: 25.7%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,049
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.7%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,952

• Median income for upper-middle class: $127,597
• Current tax burden for single filer: 29.4%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,465
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.9%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,616

• Median income for upper-middle class: $180,715
• Current tax burden for single filer: 30.7%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,825
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.9%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,612

• Median income for upper-middle class: $180,162
• Current tax burden for single filer: 30.8%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,802
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,583

• Median income for upper-middle class: $126,488
• Current tax burden for single filer: 27.6%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,521
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.3%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,658

• Median income for upper-middle class: $155,656
• Current tax burden for single filer: 31.1%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,128
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 6.1%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,621

• Median income for upper-middle class: $97,627
• Current tax burden for single filer: 25.4%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $2,801
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.1%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,601

• Median income for upper-middle class: $122,525
• Current tax burden for single filer: 27.2%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,431
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.1%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,520

• Median income for upper-middle class: $124,306
• Current tax burden for single filer: 28.2%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,431
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,542

• Median income for upper-middle class: $133,307
• Current tax burden for single filer: 28.8%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,651
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,871

• Median income for upper-middle class: $134,331
• Current tax burden for single filer: 23.9%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,934
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,167

• Median income for upper-middle class: $170,006
• Current tax burden for single filer: 25.5%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,872
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,539

• Median income for upper-middle class: $179,645
• Current tax burden for single filer: 31.0%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,775
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.2%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,551

• Median income for upper-middle class: $110,445
• Current tax burden for single filer: 26.3%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,132
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,078

• Median income for upper-middle class: $150,361
• Current tax burden for single filer: 30.0%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,048
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.3%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,476

• Median income for upper-middle class: $124,274
• Current tax burden for single filer: 27.3%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,476
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,587

• Median income for upper-middle class: $135,021
• Current tax burden for single filer: 25.0%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,895
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 1.1%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,136

• Median income for upper-middle class: $123,876
• Current tax burden for single filer: 25.6%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,546
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 2.4%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,652

• Median income for upper-middle class: $113,073
• Current tax burden for single filer: 26.8%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,186
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.3%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,161

• Median income for upper-middle class: $142,980
• Current tax burden for single filer: 32.8%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,694
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 8.5%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,032

• Median income for upper-middle class: $135,256
• Current tax burden for single filer: 27.0%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,798
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.1%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,042

• Median income for upper-middle class: $153,551
• Current tax burden for single filer: 28.8%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,208
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 3.9%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,674

• Median income for upper-middle class: $118,788
• Current tax burden for single filer: 27.9%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,295
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,339

• Median income for upper-middle class: $128,749
• Current tax burden for single filer: 23.5%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,787
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,952

• Median income for upper-middle class: $119,284
• Current tax burden for single filer: 22.9%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,538
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,588

• Median income for upper-middle class: $135,631
• Current tax burden for single filer: 23.9%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,968
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,217

• Median income for upper-middle class: $163,112
• Current tax burden for single filer: 29.9%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,400
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.6%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,983

• Median income for upper-middle class: $138,710
• Current tax burden for single filer: 29.5%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,763
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.4%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,049

• Median income for upper-middle class: $161,732
• Current tax burden for single filer: 30.5%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,324
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 5.3%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,890

• Median income for upper-middle class: $168,804
• Current tax burden for single filer: 25.5%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $4,840
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $6,492

• Median income for upper-middle class: $102,964
• Current tax burden for single filer: 26.0%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $2,931
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.3%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $3,792

• Median income for upper-middle class: $134,525
• Current tax burden for single filer: 28.4%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,707
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 4.5%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $4,942

• Median income for upper-middle class: $133,005
• Current tax burden for single filer: 23.8%
• Current bi-weekly check with all taxes: $3,899
• State tax burden (no federal taxes): 0.0%
• Bi-weekly check if no federal tax: $5,116

Methodology: To generate the income tax for every state, GOBankingRates first found upper-middle-class median income based on 2023 American Community Survey median household figures. Income tax estimates were created by using an in-house calculator for a single filer using the standard deduction (with 2024 tax brackets). Once the income taxes (federal and state) were calculated as an annual amount, GOBankingRates found each state’s (1) total annual income taxes paid; (2) total income tax burden; (3) amount taken out of bi-weekly paycheck; and (4) bi-weekly paycheck amount. GOBankingRates then took these figures and removed the federal income taxes (including FICA) to see what upper-middle-class paychecks would look like by state without federal income taxes. All data was collected on and is up to date as of March 3, 2025.