Mississippi vs North Carolina Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $216 more a year in Mississippi than in North Carolina ($18 a month).
Mississippi
4% flat state income tax
$59,324
take-home on $75,000 · $4,944/month
17th of 51 states for take-home pay
Mississippi paycheck calculator ›North Carolina
3.99% flat state income tax
$59,108
take-home on $75,000 · $4,926/month
22nd of 51 states for take-home pay
North Carolina paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in Mississippi and North Carolina by salary
| Salary | Mississippi | North Carolina | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,452 | $33,233 | $219 more in Mississippi |
| $50,000 | $41,087 | $40,869 | $218 more in Mississippi |
| $60,000 | $48,722 | $48,505 | $217 more in Mississippi |
| $75,000 | $59,324 | $59,108 | $216 more in Mississippi |
| $100,000 | $75,912 | $75,699 | $213 more in Mississippi |
| $125,000 | $92,436 | $92,224 | $211 more in Mississippi |
| $150,000 | $108,523 | $108,315 | $208 more in Mississippi |
| $200,000 | $141,659 | $141,456 | $203 more in Mississippi |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in Mississippi you would need about $75,350 in North Carolina; to match $75,000 in North Carolina you would need about $74,650 in Mississippi.
How Mississippi and North Carolina tax wages
| 2026 | Mississippi | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | a flat 4% rate on income above $10,000 | a flat 3.99% income tax |
| Top rate | 4% | 3.99% |
| Standard deduction | $2,300 single | $12,750 single |
| State tax on $75k | $2,268 (3.0%) | $2,484 (3.3%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | No |
| Reciprocity | None | None |
| 2026 change | Mississippi cut its rate on income above $10,000 from 4.4% to 4.0% for 2026, with further cuts scheduled through 2030. | North Carolina's flat rate fell to 3.99% for 2026; the budget signed in July 2026 sets 3.49% for 2027, with further scheduled cuts in later years. |
Moving between Mississippi and North Carolina
Moving from Mississippi to North Carolina
Moving to North Carolina from Virginia or Georgia raises take-home pay at $75,000, by $1,014 and $510. Coming from Tennessee or Florida costs $2,484 a year at that salary. The flat 3.99% rate and no local income taxes keep the math simple: give your employer an NC-4, and expect a part-year return for the year you arrive.
Moving from North Carolina to Mississippi
Moving to Mississippi from Alabama raises take-home pay at $75,000 by $859 a year, and the gap should grow as the state's scheduled cuts take effect; from Arkansas the gain is just $19. From Tennessee you will pay $2,268 more at that salary. There are no city income taxes to factor in, so the state rate is the only new tax on your wages. Mississippi taxes you as a part-year resident from the date you move in.
Mississippi paychecks in brief
Mississippi cut its income tax rate from 4.4% to 4% for 2026, and the first $10,000 of taxable income is still taxed at 0%. After a $2,300 standard deduction and a $6,000 personal exemption, a single filer earning $75,000 owes $2,268 to the state and takes home $59,324, or $2,282 every two weeks. More cuts are already scheduled through 2030, so Mississippi withholding should keep shrinking each January. Read the Mississippi guide.
North Carolina paychecks in brief
North Carolina cut its flat income tax rate to 3.99% for 2026, applied after a $12,750 standard deduction for single filers. A single filer earning $75,000 owes $2,484 to the state and takes home $59,108 a year, or $2,273 every two weeks. There are no city or county income taxes, so the same rate applies whether you work in Charlotte, Raleigh, or a small mountain town. Read the North Carolina guide.
Mississippi vs North Carolina: FAQ
Does Mississippi or North Carolina have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $216 more a year in Mississippi than in North Carolina ($18 a month). Mississippi has a flat 4% rate on income above $10,000 for 2026. North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax for 2026.
What salary in North Carolina equals $75,000 in Mississippi?
To take home the same $59,324 that $75,000 leaves in Mississippi, you would need about $75,350 in North Carolina, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Mississippi than in North Carolina?
At $150,000 the gap is $208 a year: $108,523 in Mississippi versus $108,315 in North Carolina. With flat or no state tax, the gap grows roughly in line with salary.
What if I live in Mississippi and work in North Carolina?
Mississippi and North Carolina do not have a reciprocity agreement, so North Carolina withholds tax on wages earned there and Mississippi generally gives residents a credit for tax paid to the other state. You effectively pay the higher of the two rates.