Massachusetts vs New Hampshire take-home pay 2026 — what the border is worth
If you are choosing between a job in Massachusetts and one in New Hampshire, the same salary does not leave the same amount in your account. The table shows the yearly take-home pay in each place for 2026 and the difference (New Hampshire minus Massachusetts).
New Hampshire does not tax wages. Massachusetts taxes wages at a flat rate plus a surtax on very high incomes, and deducts Paid Family and Medical Leave from pay. (This compares where you live; a New Hampshire resident working in Massachusetts generally still owes Massachusetts tax on that work, which is not modeled here.)
Take-home pay by salary, 2026
| Filing status | Salary | Massachusetts | New Hampshire | Difference / year | Difference / month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $60,000.00 | $47,434.00 | $50,390.00 | +$2,956.00 | +$246.33 |
| Single | $80,000.00 | $61,062.00 | $65,110.00 | +$4,048.00 | +$337.33 |
| Single | $100,000.00 | $74,040.00 | $79,180.00 | +$5,140.00 | +$428.33 |
| Single | $120,000.00 | $87,018.00 | $93,250.00 | +$6,232.00 | +$519.33 |
| Single | $150,000.00 | $105,921.00 | $113,791.00 | +$7,870.00 | +$655.83 |
| Single | $200,000.00 | $138,398.30 | $148,927.00 | +$10,528.70 | +$877.39 |
| Married filing jointly | $60,000.00 | $49,834.00 | $52,570.00 | +$2,736.00 | +$228.00 |
| Married filing jointly | $80,000.00 | $64,812.00 | $68,640.00 | +$3,828.00 | +$319.00 |
| Married filing jointly | $100,000.00 | $79,790.00 | $84,710.00 | +$4,920.00 | +$410.00 |
| Married filing jointly | $120,000.00 | $94,768.00 | $100,780.00 | +$6,012.00 | +$501.00 |
| Married filing jointly | $150,000.00 | $115,535.00 | $123,185.00 | +$7,650.00 | +$637.50 |
| Married filing jointly | $200,000.00 | $149,012.30 | $159,321.00 | +$10,308.70 | +$859.06 |
Married filing jointly here means one earner with the spouse having no income.
Where the difference comes from — $100,000, single
| Item | Massachusetts | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | $13,170.00 | $13,170.00 |
| Social Security | $6,200.00 | $6,200.00 |
| Medicare | $1,450.00 | $1,450.00 |
| State income tax | $4,680.00 | $0.00 |
| Paid Family and Medical Leave | $460.00 | $0.00 |
| Take-home | $74,040.00 | $79,180.00 |
Compare your own two offers
Different salaries in the two places? The Job Offer Take-Home Pay Comparison spreadsheet (US$7.99) takes offer A and offer B — state and salary each — and shows yearly and monthly take-home and the real difference, for 143 state and local choices. There is a free Texas-only version on that page to try first.
Assumptions
- 2026 federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare, state income tax and state employee payroll contributions, with rates from official IRS, SSA and state sources, checked October 19, 2026.
- W-2 wages only, the standard deduction, no 401(k) or other pre-tax deductions, no credits.
- Calculated with the same engine as the spreadsheet, which was checked to the cent across 1,410 test cases.
Estimates for planning, not tax advice.