How the Wyoming Paycheck Calculator Works
This Wyoming paycheck calculator hourly tool computes your take-home pay by subtracting federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) from your gross earnings. Wyoming imposes no state income tax on wages, so your state tax line is always zero. Every dollar of state-level tax savings goes directly into your pocket.
The core formula:
Take-Home = Gross Pay - Federal Tax - Social Security - Medicare
Annual gross is your hourly wage multiplied by hours per week multiplied by 52 weeks. To convert between hourly and annual figures, use our salary calculator. Per-period pay divides the annual figure by 52, 26, 24, or 12 depending on your pay frequency.
Federal income tax follows progressive brackets from 10% on the first $11,925 of taxable income (single) up to 37% on income above $626,350. The standard deduction is $15,000 for single filers, $30,000 for married filing jointly, and $22,500 for head of household. Social Security tax is 6.2% on wages up to $176,100, and Medicare is 1.45% on all wages plus a 0.9% surtax above $200,000 single or $250,000 married.
Wyoming State Hourly Paycheck Tax Breakdown
Wyoming is one of nine US states with no income tax on wages, joining Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. Wyoming has never had a state income tax in its history, and the state constitution requires a two-thirds supermajority in both chambers of the legislature to introduce any new tax, making it virtually impossible to enact one. With a population of approximately 577,000 — the smallest of any US state — Wyoming punches well above its weight in natural resource production.
The state funds its operations primarily through mineral extraction taxes. Wyoming is the nation's largest coal producer, generating roughly 40% of all US coal from the Powder River Basin in the northeastern part of the state. It is also a significant producer of oil, natural gas, trona (used in soda ash manufacturing), and uranium. Severance taxes on these resources, combined with federal mineral royalties, have historically funded over half of the state's general fund budget. This revenue model allows Wyoming to maintain one of the lowest overall tax burdens in the country for individual workers.
Wyoming's 4% state sales tax is supplemented by optional county taxes of up to 2%, bringing combined rates to as high as 6% in some areas. Property taxes are also levied, with rates varying by county. Teton County (home to Jackson Hole) has some of the highest property values in the nation, while rural counties remain far more affordable. There are no local income or payroll taxes anywhere in Wyoming.
The absence of state income tax makes Wyoming especially attractive for remote workers and retirees. As more companies embrace remote work, professionals earning high salaries from tech firms based in California, New York, or Washington can live in Wyoming and keep their entire paycheck free of state income tax. Communities like Sheridan, Cody, and Jackson have seen growing populations of remote workers drawn by the tax advantage, outdoor recreation, and quality of life.
Your Wyoming paycheck deductions come from two federal sources only:
- Federal income tax: Progressive brackets based on filing status and taxable income. See our income tax calculator for full-year estimates.
- Social Security: 6.2% on wages up to $176,100 annually.
- Medicare: 1.45% on all wages, plus 0.9% surtax above $200,000 single or $250,000 married.
Variable Definitions
Hourly Wage: Your gross pay per hour before deductions. Wyoming's minimum wage matches the federal rate of $7.25/hour, but the energy sector drives wages far higher. An oil field roustabout in the Powder River Basin typically earns $20-$28/hour, while a drilling engineer can earn $50-$75/hour. Coal miners in Gillette average $28-$40/hour. Tourism and hospitality workers in Jackson Hole and near Yellowstone National Park earn $15-$22/hour, though seasonal housing costs offset the wage advantage. F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne employs thousands of civilian workers at federal pay scales.
Hours per Week: Total regular hours. Full-time is 40. Energy sector workers in Wyoming frequently work 50-60 hour weeks or 12-hour shifts on rotational schedules (14 days on, 7 days off). Ranch hands during calving season or haying may work 60+ hours. Tourism workers in Grand Teton and Yellowstone often work extended summer hours. Enter your typical weekly figure; overtime above 40 hours is paid at 1.5x under federal law.
Pay Frequency: Weekly (52 periods), biweekly (26), semi-monthly (24), or monthly (12). Most energy companies pay biweekly. State and county government employees are typically paid monthly. Ranching and agricultural operations vary, with some paying weekly during peak seasons. Federal civilian workers at F.E. Warren AFB are paid biweekly on the standard federal pay schedule.
Filing Status: Determines your federal standard deduction and bracket thresholds. Since Wyoming has no state tax, filing status only affects federal calculations. A single oil field worker has a $15,000 federal standard deduction. Married filing jointly doubles it to $30,000, which is common in Wyoming where the median household includes two earners.
Pre-Tax Deduction: Percentage of gross pay contributed to 401(k), 403(b), or HSA. A drilling engineer earning $120,000 who contributes 12% ($14,400) to their 401(k) reduces federal taxable income by that amount, saving roughly $3,168 in federal tax at the 22% marginal rate. In Wyoming, there is no additional state tax benefit since there is no state income tax, but the federal savings alone makes pre-tax contributions valuable.
Worked Example 1: Wyoming Hourly Paycheck at $22/Hour
A single filer earning $22/hour, working 40 hours/week, biweekly pay, with no pre-tax deductions. This represents a typical entry-level oil field worker or skilled trades worker in Casper or Gillette:
- Annual gross: $22 x 40 x 52 = $45,760
- Federal taxable income: $45,760 - $15,000 = $30,760
- Federal tax: ($11,925 x 10%) + ($18,835 x 12%) = $1,192.50 + $2,260.20 = $3,452.70
- Wyoming state tax: $0
- Social Security: $45,760 x 6.2% = $2,837.12
- Medicare: $45,760 x 1.45% = $663.52
- Total deductions: $3,452.70 + $0 + $2,837.12 + $663.52 = $6,953.34
- Annual take-home: $45,760 - $6,953.34 = $38,806.66
- Biweekly take-home: $38,806.66 / 26 = $1,492.56
This worker retains 84.8% of gross pay. The same worker in neighboring Colorado would lose an additional $2,013 to Colorado's 4.4% state income tax, reducing annual take-home to approximately $36,794.
Worked Example 2: Wyoming Hourly Paycheck at $48/Hour
A married filing jointly filer earning $48/hour, working 40 hours/week, biweekly pay, with an 8% pre-tax 401(k) contribution. This represents an experienced petroleum engineer or mine supervisor:
- Annual gross: $48 x 40 x 52 = $99,840
- Pre-tax deduction: $99,840 x 8% = $7,987.20
- Taxable gross: $99,840 - $7,987.20 = $91,852.80
- Federal taxable income: $91,852.80 - $30,000 = $61,852.80
- Federal tax: ($23,850 x 10%) + ($37,002.80 x 12%) = $2,385 + $4,440.34 = $6,825.34
- Wyoming state tax: $0
- Social Security: $91,852.80 x 6.2% = $5,694.87
- Medicare: $91,852.80 x 1.45% = $1,331.87
- Total deductions: $7,987.20 + $6,825.34 + $0 + $5,694.87 + $1,331.87 = $21,839.28
- Annual take-home: $99,840 - $21,839.28 = $78,000.72
- Biweekly take-home: $78,000.72 / 26 = $3,000.03
This worker keeps 78.1% of gross pay. The same worker in Colorado would take home roughly $4,000 less per year due to Colorado's 4.4% flat income tax. In Montana, the difference would be even larger, with state income tax rates reaching 6.75%.
Edge Cases and Advanced Scenarios
Social Security wage base cap ($176,100 in 2026): While fewer Wyoming workers hit this cap compared to coastal tech hubs, high-earning petroleum engineers, mine managers, and energy executives do exceed it. A senior drilling consultant earning $200,000 pays SS tax only on the first $176,100, totaling $176,100 x 6.2% = $10,918.20. Once the cap is reached mid-year, subsequent paychecks see a noticeable bump in take-home pay as the 6.2% withholding stops.
Additional Medicare tax for high earners: Wages above $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (married) incur an extra 0.9% Medicare surtax. A senior energy company executive in Casper earning $275,000 filing single owes ($275,000 - $200,000) x 0.9% = $675 in additional Medicare tax on top of the standard 1.45% rate.
Cross-border workers (Wyoming-Colorado, Wyoming-Montana, Wyoming-Idaho): Wyoming shares borders with Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. Workers who live in Wyoming but commute to Colorado for work owe Colorado's 4.4% income tax on wages earned there. Montana charges 1-6.75% on income earned within its borders. Idaho levies a 5.695% flat rate. Nebraska has progressive rates up to 6.64%. South Dakota, like Wyoming, has no income tax. Wyoming residents working entirely within Wyoming owe no state income tax regardless of employer location.
Seasonal and rotational energy workers: Wyoming's energy sector features many rotational workers who may live out of state but work extended shifts in Wyoming. Since Wyoming has no income tax, these workers owe no Wyoming state tax. However, their home state may tax the Wyoming-earned income. A rotational driller living in Texas (also no income tax) and working in Wyoming pays no state income tax in either location. A driller living in Colorado and working Wyoming rotations would owe Colorado tax on all income, since Colorado taxes residents on worldwide income. Understanding your residency status and which state can tax your income is critical for cross-border energy workers.
What to Do with Your Wyoming Paycheck Result
- Compare your calculated take-home to your actual pay stub. Differences typically arise from health insurance premiums, voluntary retirement contributions, or employer-specific deductions not captured here.
- Maximize 401(k) or 403(b) contributions to reduce federal income tax. Since Wyoming has no state tax, the federal deduction is your only income tax savings lever, making it even more important to optimize.
- Consider Wyoming's overall cost of living. While income taxes are zero, housing costs in Teton County and the Jackson Hole area rival coastal cities. Rural Wyoming remains extremely affordable, making the tax-free paycheck stretch further.
- Use our federal income tax percentage calculator to understand your effective federal tax rate, since federal tax is the only income tax you pay in Wyoming.
Related Calculators
- Colorado Paycheck Calculator (Hourly) — compare Wyoming's zero state tax to Colorado's 4.4% flat rate across the border.
- Montana Paycheck Calculator (Hourly) — Montana charges 1-6.75%, a major difference for workers near the WY-MT border.
- Idaho Paycheck Calculator (Hourly) — Idaho levies a flat 5.695%, relevant for workers in the western Wyoming-Idaho corridor.
- Nebraska Paycheck Calculator (Hourly) — Nebraska has progressive rates up to 6.64%, significant for eastern Wyoming border workers.
- Salary Calculator — convert between hourly and annual pay.
- Income Tax Calculator — estimate your total federal income tax liability.
- Federal Income Tax Percentage Calculator — find your effective federal tax rate.
- Paycheck Calculator by State — compare take-home pay across all 50 states and DC.