Alaska vs Arizona Paycheck Comparison
See exactly how much more take-home pay you'd get in Alaska vs Arizona on any salary, 2026 tax rates.
Updated October 2026Compare take-home pay
Alaska vs Arizona take-home pay, side by side
The two states start from different structures: Alaska levies no state income tax on wages, while Arizona applies a flat 2.5% state rate. Federal income tax and FICA are identical either way, so every dollar of difference below comes from state tax alone. Figures assume a single filer on 2026 federal rates and each state's latest published schedule (2026 for Alaska, 2025 for Arizona), with no pre-tax deductions.
| Gross salary | Take-home in Alaska | Take-home in Arizona | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,320 | $33,714 | $606 more in Alaska |
| $60,000 | $50,390 | $49,284 | $1,106 more in Alaska |
| $85,000 | $68,627 | $66,896 | $1,731 more in Alaska |
| $120,000 | $93,250 | $90,644 | $2,606 more in Alaska |
| $175,000 | $130,878 | $126,897 | $3,981 more in Alaska |
The gap widens with income. At $175,000, a single filer keeps $3,981 more per year in Alaska than in Arizona, which works out to about $332 a month. Anyone weighing a move between the two should read that figure as a ceiling rather than a promise: it ignores property tax, sales tax and cost of living, and those often move in the opposite direction to income tax.
Common questions
Which state has lower income taxes?
Alaska does, and by a clear margin: it collects no state income tax on wages at all, while arizona applies a flat 2.5% state rate.
Does moving between them actually save money?
On wage taxation alone the table gives the number. A full picture needs property tax rates, sales tax and housing costs on top, and states with no income tax typically recover the revenue elsewhere. Run your own salary through the calculator above, then compare that difference against the rent or mortgage you would pay in each place.
Do these figures include federal tax?
Yes. Each take-home column is net of federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax. Because the federal portion is identical in both states, the difference column isolates the state effect.
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Disclaimer: For informational purposes only. Not tax, legal, or financial advice.