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Source document· February 17, 2026

How Much the Top 5% Pay in Taxes in Every State

View original at finance.yahoo.com
How Much the Top 5% Pay in Taxes in Every State The percentage of income America’s top earners get to keep varies dramatically depending on which state they call home…
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  • High earners in California face the nation's heaviest tax burden, losing 42.8% of their income if filing single and 35.8% if married.

    80% confidence
  • South Dakota provides the most tax-friendly environment for the top 5%, with burdens of only 31.3% (single) and 23.6% (married).

    80% confidence
  • In states with no state income tax, the total tax burden for the top 5% is driven almost entirely by federal and FICA taxes, consistently keeping their total burden below the national average.

    80% confidence
  • The combined weight of federal, state and FICA taxes can consume nearly half of a paycheck in some areas while leaving significantly more on the table in others.

    80% confidence
  • Across all states, the average tax burden for a single filer is approximately 36.1%, while the burden for a married couple is 28.8%, representing a savings of over 7% of total income.

    80% confidence
  • There are nine states with no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

    80% confidence
  • Connecticut has the highest average top 5% income at $691,840, while Mississippi has the lowest at $350,029, a difference of over $300,000.

    80% confidence
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