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Which States Give More to Washington Than They Get Back
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Key Takeaways
- Nebraska and Minnesota contribute the largest share of their economies to the federal government, paying about 10% more than they receive back.
- New Mexico stands out as America’s biggest net recipient, receiving federal funding equal to roughly 22% more than it contributes in taxes.
Every state sends tax dollars to Washington and receives federal funding in return through programs like Social Security, Medicare, defense spending, infrastructure, and government contracts.
This map shows which states give more to the federal government than they get back, and which receive more than they contribute, as a share of state GDP in 2024. The analysis combines data from the IRS, Bureau of Economic Analysis, and USASpending.gov.
The results reveal a sharp divide across the country. Many high-income and economically productive states contribute substantially more in federal taxes, while several lower-income and rural states rely more heavily on federal spending.
Top Net Contributors Lead in Economic Output
Nebraska and Minnesota rank as America’s biggest net contributors relative to the size of their economies, each sending roughly 10% more of their GDP to Washington than they receive back in federal spending.
High-income states like New Jersey, California, and Washington also rank among the biggest contributors. These states tend to have strong economies, higher wages, and larger tax bases.
A clear geographic pattern emerges in the data: many coastal and Midwestern states are net contributors, while several Southern and Mountain West states receive more federal funding than they pay in taxes.
In the table below, positive values indicate a state pays more than it receives, while negative values indicate it receives more than it pays.
| State | Net Federal Contribution (% of state GDP) |
|---|---|
| Nebraska | 10% |
| Minnesota | 10% |
| New Jersey | 8% |
| California | 7% |
| Washington | 7% |
| Ohio | 6% |
| Illinois | 5% |
| Massachusetts | 5% |
| Delaware | 5% |
| New York | 3% |
| Rhode Island | 2% |
| Texas | 2% |
| Georgia | 2% |
| Colorado | 2% |
| Tennessee | 1% |
| Connecticut | 1% |
| Utah | 1% |
| Florida | 1% |
| Arkansas | 0% |
| Missouri | -1% |
| Nevada | -1% |
| Indiana | -1% |
| Wyoming | -1% |
| South Dakota | -1% |
| North Dakota | -1% |
| North Carolina | -2% |
| Wisconsin | -2% |
| Kansas | -2% |
| Pennsylvania | -3% |
| Iowa | -3% |
| New Hampshire | -3% |
| Michigan | -5% |
| Maryland | -5% |
| Arizona | -6% |
| Oregon | -6% |
| Idaho | -6% |
| Oklahoma | -8% |
| Louisiana | -9% |
| Montana | -9% |
| Kentucky | -10% |
| Vermont | -10% |
| South Carolina | -11% |
| Virginia | -12% |
| Hawaii | -12% |
| Maine | -14% |
| Alabama | -14% |
| Alaska | -15% |
| Mississippi | -21% |
| West Virginia | -21% |
| New Mexico | -22% |
Balanced States Sit Near the Middle
Several states fall close to neutral, including Arkansas, Texas, and Georgia. These states have relatively balanced flows of federal taxes and spending. Their large, diverse economies help offset federal inflows and outflows.
Southern and Rural States Receive More Than They Pay
At the other end, states like New Mexico, West Virginia, and Mississippi receive significantly more federal funds than they contribute.
Many of these states have smaller tax bases and depend more heavily on federal programs tied to healthcare, retirement benefits, military spending, and income support. In some cases, federal spending serves as a major economic stabilizer for local communities.
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