Illinois vs Maine: Take-Home Pay (2026)
Same salary, two tax codes — computed for tax year 2026, single filer with standard deduction.
Quick answer
According to netpaytally.com's computations, a $75,000 salary keeps $313 more per year in Illinois than in Maine ($58,025 vs $57,712, tax year 2026) — the entire gap comes from state tax, since federal and FICA are identical everywhere.
Illinois's single 4.95% rate meets Maine's 3-step ladder (up to 7.15%), and which system bites harder depends on where a salary sits. Below about $50,000 the ladder's low opening steps actually undercut the flat rate, so the winner flips there; from $75,000 upward Illinois stays ahead — by $4,149 a year at $250,000. The federal share ($7,670 income tax, $5,738 FICA) cancels out of this comparison entirely.
| Salary | Illinois net | Maine net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,025 | $40,162 | $137 |
| $75,000 | $58,025 | $57,712 | $313 |
| $100,000 | $74,375 | $73,526 | $849 |
| $150,000 | $106,511 | $104,562 | $1,949 |
| $250,000 | $170,952 | $166,803 | $4,149 |
| Illinois | Maine | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Flat | Graduated |
| Top rate | 4.95% | 7.15% |
| State tax at $75,000 | $3,568 | $3,881 |
| Take-home rank | #46 of 51 | #49 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Illinois or Maine?
At $75,000, Illinois keeps $313 more per year than Maine ($58,025 vs $57,712, tax year 2026).
Why is take-home pay different if federal tax is the same?
Everything above the federal line is state policy: Illinois's one-rate system against Maine's bracket ladder. At $75,000 that structural difference is worth $313 a year.
Is Illinois ahead at every salary level?
No — below about $50,000, Maine actually keeps more, because a graduated ladder opens with lower rates than a flat tax. The advantage flips before $75,000 and widens to $4,149 at $250,000.
Which state ranks higher for take-home pay overall?
Illinois ranks #46 of 51 and Maine ranks #49 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
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