Dentist vs Mechanical Engineer Salary After Tax (2026)

Side-by-side take-home pay comparison across all 50 states. Single filer, standard deduction, 2026 tax rates.

Dentist

$172,790

national median wage

$129,368/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Dentist earns $70,470 more nationally

Dentist leads in 51 states · Mechanical Engineer leads in 0 states

Mechanical Engineer

$102,320

national median wage

$80,812/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

Sorted by largest difference. Positive difference = Dentist earns more after tax.

State	Dentist	Mechanical Engineer	Difference
VTVermont	$156,933	$75,372	+$81,562	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$147,204	$67,559	+$79,645	A·B
DEDelaware	$152,975	$77,656	+$75,319	A·B
WIWisconsin	$144,253	$71,891	+$72,362	A·B
AKAlaska	$170,597	$100,114	+$70,483	A·B
AZArizona	$149,068	$78,786	+$70,283	A·B
MNMinnesota	$142,522	$73,255	+$69,266	A·B
MEMaine	$142,015	$74,474	+$67,541	A·B
GAGeorgia	$136,271	$72,541	+$63,730	A·B
WAWashington	$147,399	$85,772	+$61,627	A·B
ARArkansas	$122,620	$61,223	+$61,396	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$135,303	$76,356	+$58,947	A·B
NENebraska	$119,232	$63,833	+$55,399	A·B
CTConnecticut	$133,536	$78,677	+$54,859	A·B
VAVirginia	$126,369	$73,824	+$52,545	A·B
MOMissouri	$122,184	$70,093	+$52,091	A·B
ILIllinois	$125,797	$74,198	+$51,599	A·B
INIndiana	$127,047	$75,720	+$51,327	A·B
IAIowa	$124,834	$74,375	+$50,459	A·B
OROregon	$122,010	$71,821	+$50,190	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$122,581	$72,560	+$50,021	A·B
KSKansas	$118,831	$69,069	+$49,762	A·B
MDMaryland	$131,910	$82,482	+$49,428	A·B
ALAlabama	$120,993	$72,844	+$48,150	A·B
MIMichigan	$125,025	$76,985	+$48,040	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$121,419	$74,394	+$47,025	A·B
OKOklahoma	$115,108	$68,976	+$46,132	A·B
FLFlorida	$122,588	$77,203	+$45,384	A·B
LALouisiana	$129,021	$86,029	+$42,992	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$122,020	$81,917	+$40,104	A·B
IDIdaho	$117,135	$77,114	+$40,021	A·B
OHOhio	$114,102	$74,731	+$39,371	A·B
MTMontana	$112,621	$74,406	+$38,215	A·B
TNTennessee	$116,839	$78,709	+$38,131	A·B
NYNew York	$114,762	$77,627	+$37,135	A·B
RIRhode Island	$122,762	$86,049	+$36,713	A·B
TXTexas	$118,828	$84,977	+$33,852	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$111,223	$77,786	+$33,437	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$112,537	$79,491	+$33,046	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$120,948	$89,197	+$31,751	A·B
CACalifornia	$120,785	$89,978	+$30,806	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$105,773	$75,598	+$30,175	A·B
HIHawaii	$97,812	$70,130	+$27,682	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$117,649	$92,040	+$25,610	A·B
MSMississippi	$94,333	$69,361	+$24,971	A·B
KYKentucky	$99,288	$75,403	+$23,885	A·B
UTUtah	$95,764	$74,098	+$21,666	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$121,560	$102,372	+$19,187	A·B
NVNevada	$96,827	$77,850	+$18,976	A·B
COColorado	$99,113	$80,804	+$18,309	A·B
WYWyoming	$97,975	$91,076	+$6,899	A·B