Louisiana Tax & Salary Calculators (2026)
Everything you need to work out pay and tax as a Louisiana resident in 2026, in one place. Louisiana applies a flat 3.00% income tax after a $12,500 state standard deduction. Federal income tax and FICA (6.2% Social Security up to $184,500 plus 1.45% Medicare) apply on top, identically in every state — the Louisiana layer is what makes your net pay different from a neighbour's.
Louisiana ditched its three-bracket progressive system for a flat 3% income tax in 2025 — pairing it with a generous $12,500 standard deduction. Cost of living in Louisiana sits at index 91 (US average = 100), median household income is $57,852, and a one-bedroom apartment in New Orleans rents for around $1,450 per month. The local economy leans on oil, tourism, and shipping.
Louisiana calculators
Louisiana income tax brackets 2026 (single filer)
| Taxable income | Rate |
|---|---|
| $0 and up | 3.00% |
Louisiana tax facts beyond income tax (2026)
| State sales tax | 5% |
| Avg. effective property tax | 0.56% of home value |
| Minimum wage 2026 | $7.25 / hour |
| Top state income tax rate | 3.00% |
| Reciprocity agreements | None |
Louisiana charges a 5% state sales tax, homeowners pay an average effective property tax of 0.56% of market value, and the minimum wage in force during 2026 is $7.25 an hour. Local rates are the highest in the nation on average, pushing combined sales tax above 10%.
Louisiana adds no state-mandated employee payroll deduction beyond federal FICA, so your gross-to-net gap comes only from federal tax and Louisiana income tax.
Louisiana exempts Social Security, all state and local pensions, and up to $6,000 of other retirement income at 65+.
Commuting and remote work across Louisiana lines
Louisiana has no income-tax reciprocity agreements, so if you live here and work across a state line you generally file a nonresident return in the work state and claim a credit at home to avoid double taxation.
If you work remotely for an out-of-state employer, the state where you physically sit normally has the first claim on your wages, while your employer may still be required to register for Louisiana withholding. Keep a day-count record whenever you split the year between Louisiana and Texas.
Louisiana vs Texas: $75,000 salary compared
| Measure | Louisiana | Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Annual take-home | $59,718 | $61,593 |
| Effective tax rate | 20.4% | 17.9% |
| Cost-of-living index | 91 | 92 |
| Property tax rate | 0.56% | 1.68% |
| State sales tax | 5% | 6.25% |
The paycheck difference is $1,875 a year on a $75,000 salary, but the full picture depends on housing: a one-bedroom in New Orleans runs about $1,450 a month, and property and sales taxes shift the balance again. See the Texas hub for the mirror view.