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

2 weeks ago 11

J. David Herman

Tue, February 17, 2026 astatine 6:17 AM CST 12 min read

The percent of income America’s apical earners get to support varies dramatically depending connected which authorities they telephone home.

A caller survey from GOBankingRates reveals a staggering disparity successful some income levels and taxation liabilities for the apical 5% of earners crossed the 50 states. The investigation shows that the combined value of federal, authorities and FICA taxes tin devour astir fractional of a paycheck successful immoderate areas portion leaving importantly much connected the array successful others.

To find these figures, GOBankingRates utilized a methodology centered connected the 2024 American Community Survey five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau to place mean top-tier incomes. The survey past applied 2025 national and authorities taxation brackets sourced from the Tax Foundation, utilizing an in-house calculator to relationship for effectual and marginal rates. The researchers besides factored successful FICA taxes utilizing Social Security Administration rates and analyzed some azygous and associated filing scenarios.

Read connected for cardinal findings and a state-by-state breakdown.

Also spot however overmuch your authorities collects connected each benignant of tax.

The mean income for the apical 5% varies drastically crossed the country. Connecticut has the highest mean income astatine $691,840, portion Mississippi has the lowest astatine $350,029 — a quality of implicit $300,000.
High earners successful California look the nation’s heaviest taxation burden, losing 42.8% of their income if filing azygous and 35.8% if married. Conversely, South Dakota provides the astir tax-friendly situation for the apical 5%, with burdens of lone 31.3% (single) and 23.6% (married).
On average, joined couples successful the apical 5% filing jointly spot a importantly little taxation load than azygous filers. Across each states, the mean taxation load for a azygous filer is astir 36.1%, portion the load for a joined mates is 28.8%, representing a savings of implicit 7% of full income.
There are 9 states with nary authorities income taxation (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming). In these states, the full taxation load for the apical 5% is driven astir wholly by national and FICA taxes, consistently keeping their full load beneath the nationalist average.

Here’s however the numbers look for each state.

Check Out: 5 Ways You Can Reduce Your Tax Bill Like a Millionaire, According to Robert Kiyosaki

Also See: 9 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week)

Average income of apical 5%: $397,327
Single filer:
- Average income taxes paid: $141,493
- Tax burden: 35.6%
Married filing jointly:
- Average income taxes paid: $111,218
- Tax burden: 28.0%