Ohio Paycheck Calculator (2026)
Ohio has one of the gentlest state income taxes in the country: the first $26,050 of income is taxed at 0%, and only the amount above it faces 2.75% (2026). Add a $2,400 personal exemption and a $75,000 salary loses barely over a thousand dollars to the state. But Ohio has a quirk that eats into the advantage: many of its cities levy their own income taxes.
See your own numbers in our US Take-Home Pay Calculator.
2026 Ohio income tax: 0% then 2.75%
Ohio's 2026 schedule (source: Tax Foundation, "2026 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets," as of January 2026): 0% on the first $26,050 of taxable income, 2.75% on everything above. A $2,400 personal exemption (single; $4,800 married filing jointly) comes off first.
Worked example: $75,000 salary, single filer, 2026
Federal (2026: $16,100 standard deduction, single; brackets per IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32): taxable $58,900 → federal income tax $7,670 (10% × $12,400 = $1,240; 12% × $38,000 = $4,560; 22% × $8,500 = $1,870).
FICA: 6.2% × $75,000 = $4,650; 1.45% × $75,000 = $1,087.50 → $5,737.50 (under the 2026 $184,500 Social Security wage base).
Ohio: ($75,000 − $2,400 exemption) = $72,600; first $26,050 at 0%:
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio taxable income | $75,000 − $2,400 | $72,600 |
| Amount above $26,050 | $72,600 − $26,050 | $46,550 |
| Ohio tax | $46,550 × 2.75% | $1,280.13 → $1,280 |
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Gross pay | $75,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$7,670 |
| FICA | −$5,738 |
| Ohio income tax | −$1,280 |
| Take-home (before city tax) | $60,312 |
At $1,280, Ohio takes less than half of what Illinois takes ($3,568) at the same salary — the 0% bracket does heavy lifting.
What changes at $150,000
The same single filer at $150,000 in 2026: federal income tax $24,734 (taxable $133,900 → 10% × $12,400 = $1,240; 12% × $38,000 = $4,560; 22% × $55,300 = $12,166; 24% × $28,200 = $6,768) and FICA $11,475 ($9,300 Social Security + $2,175 Medicare — still under the $184,500 wage base).
| $75,000 salary | $150,000 salary | |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio income tax | $1,280 | $3,343 |
| Take-home | $60,312 | $110,448 |
Ohio's 0% bracket matters less at $150,000 — the state's share rises from 1.7% to 2.2% as more income clears the $26,050 threshold. Still the cheapest state-tax bill in this set at both incomes (before city taxes).
Local taxes: the Ohio city-tax wrinkle
Many Ohio cities levy their own municipal income taxes — commonly around 1.8%–2.5% in the big cities (Columbus 2.5%, Cleveland 2.5%, Cincinnati 1.8% in 2026 — each city sets its own rate; checked 2026-10-10). These are withheld separately and filed on city returns. If you live and work in the same city you typically pay once; live in one city and work in another and the credit rules get fiddly. On $75,000, a 2.5% city tax is ~$1,875 — bigger than the state tax itself. Always check both lines on an Ohio pay stub.
Final pay & PTO rules
Ohio has no special final-paycheck statute — final wages are governed by the state's regular pay-frequency law. Employers must pay wages earned during the first half of a month by the 1st of the next month, and wages earned during the last half by the 15th — so your final pay arrives on the normal payday schedule whether you quit or were fired. Vacation/PTO payout at separation follows the employer's own policy, not state law. Ohio also has no statewide mandatory paid sick leave law; any sick time you get is purely your employer's policy.
Sources: Ohio Revised Code § 4113.15 (codes.ohio.gov). Checked 2026-10-10.
FAQ
Why is Ohio's tax so low? Ohio has been cutting income taxes for a decade — flattening brackets and raising the 0% threshold. The 2026 structure (0% to $26,050, then 2.75%) is the result. The state shifted toward sales and other taxes instead.
Do I really pay zero on the first $26,050? For state income tax purposes, yes — after the $2,400 exemption, the first $26,050 of the remainder is taxed at 0%. Federal tax and FICA still apply from dollar one (minus the federal standard deduction).
I live in a township with no city tax. Do I still owe city tax where I work? Generally yes — Ohio municipal tax follows the work location, with credits when both home and work cities tax you. Townships themselves usually don't levy income tax, but your employer's city might.
How does Ohio treat bonuses? Same 2.75%-above-threshold math on supplemental wages, plus any city tax. Federal supplemental withholding (22%) applies on top. See our bonus guide.
Ohio vs. Pennsylvania — which keeps more? At $75,000: Ohio ≈ $60,312 (before city tax) vs. Pennsylvania ≈ $59,289 (before local EIT). Ohio's 0% bracket wins at this income — but add a 2.5% Ohio city tax and Pennsylvania pulls ahead. Local taxes decide this one.
Is Ohio trying to eliminate the income tax entirely? Some lawmakers have floated it, and the decade-long cutting streak points that way — but elimination hasn't happened. Don't plan as if the rate is zero; plan on the current 0%-then-2.75% structure and treat future cuts as a bonus.
Data sources
- State: Tax Foundation, "2026 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets" (as of January 2026) — 0% to $26,050, 2.75% above; $2,400/$4,800 exemption — as implemented in this site's calculator.
- Municipal taxes: vary by city (Columbus 2.5%, Cleveland 2.5%, Cincinnati 1.8% per city sources, 2026; checked 2026-10-10).
- Federal: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (IR-2025-103, Oct 9, 2025); 2026 standard deduction $16,100 single.
- FICA: SSA 2026 — 6.2% to $184,500 wage base; 1.45% Medicare.
Estimates only, not tax advice.