How Alabama taxes your paycheck
Alabama uses 3 graduated brackets for single filers, from 2% up to a top rate of 5% on income above $3,000. The model applies a standard deduction of $3,000 for single filers ($8,500 for married filing jointly) and a personal exemption of $1,500 per person. Alabama also lets you subtract federal income tax paid, which the calculator includes.
Alabama is one of the few states that lets you deduct the federal income tax you pay when computing state taxable income, which softens its top 5% rate. Cities such as Birmingham also levy a 1% local occupational tax that this calculator lets you add through the local-rate field.
Take-home pay in Alabama at common salaries
The table shows a single filer with no pre-tax deductions, paid biweekly, using 2026 federal rules and the Alabama rules described above.
| Salary | Federal tax | FICA | Alabama tax | Annual take-home | Per biweekly check | Share kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $1,164 | $25,121 | $966.19 | 83.7% |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $2,044 | $40,311 | $1,550.42 | 80.6% |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $3,102 | $58,491 | $2,249.65 | 78.0% |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $4,077 | $75,104 | $2,888.60 | 75.1% |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $5,998 | $107,793 | $4,145.87 | 71.9% |
Married filing jointly
| Household wages | Federal tax | FICA | Alabama tax | Annual take-home | Per biweekly check | Share kept |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $60,000 | $2,840 | $4,590 | $2,203 | $50,367 | $1,937.19 | 83.9% |
| $100,000 | $7,640 | $7,650 | $3,963 | $80,747 | $3,105.65 | 80.7% |
| $150,000 | $15,340 | $11,475 | $6,078 | $117,107 | $4,504.12 | 78.1% |
| $200,000 | $26,340 | $14,339 | $8,028 | $151,293 | $5,818.96 | 75.6% |
Joint filers use a standard deduction of $32,200 and wider federal brackets. For one-earner households, the numbers above assume all wages belong to one spouse; if both spouses work, each pays Social Security and Medicare on their own wages.
How Alabama ranks for take-home pay
At a $75,000 salary and single filing status, Alabama ranks #35 of 51 (50 states plus DC) for annual take-home pay at $58,491. The highest in this ranking is Alaska at $61,593. Alabama’s state income tax and payroll programs take about $3,102 of that salary, compared with $0 in a state with no wage tax. You can rank all states for any salary with the state comparison tool.
Compare Alabama with other states
Sales tax in Alabama
Alabama’s state sales tax rate is 4.00%. Local governments add an average of 5.46%, for a combined average of about 9.46% (Tax Foundation, midyear 2026). The highest local rate in the state is 8.00%. Income tax and sales tax together set how far your money goes, so compare both when you consider a move.
What this estimate leaves out
Your actual paycheck can differ because of health insurance premiums, local taxes, employer-specific deductions and your Form W-4. See the paycheck withholding guide for how employers calculate withholding, and our methodology page for the list of simplifications.