Firefighter vs Elementary School Teacher Salary After Tax (2026)

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

Firefighter

$59,530

national median wage

$50,012/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Elementary School Teacher earns $2,810 more nationally

Firefighter leads in 11 states · Elementary School Teacher leads in 40 states

Elementary School Teacher

$62,340

national median wage

$52,270/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

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

State	Firefighter	Elementary School Teacher	Difference
NMNew Mexico	$35,788	$52,904	-$17,116	A·B
KYKentucky	$30,840	$46,855	-$16,016	A·B
MNMinnesota	$34,491	$50,128	-$15,637	A·B
LALouisiana	$28,633	$43,005	-$14,372	A·B
DEDelaware	$38,702	$52,381	-$13,679	A·B
GAGeorgia	$37,354	$50,522	-$13,168	A·B
VTVermont	$38,134	$49,792	-$11,658	A·B
RIRhode Island	$55,721	$67,322	-$11,602	A·B
MEMaine	$38,314	$49,214	-$10,900	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$34,293	$44,959	-$10,665	A·B
COColorado	$60,030	$49,636	+$10,394	A·B
ILIllinois	$60,693	$50,701	+$9,992	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$37,508	$47,479	-$9,970	A·B
WIWisconsin	$39,197	$49,055	-$9,858	A·B
AKAlaska	$52,977	$62,500	-$9,523	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$60,926	$70,389	-$9,463	A·B
UTUtah	$39,595	$49,031	-$9,436	A·B
ALAlabama	$38,229	$47,542	-$9,313	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$31,133	$40,411	-$9,278	A·B
CACalifornia	$63,837	$72,866	-$9,029	A·B
MSMississippi	$30,746	$39,496	-$8,750	A·B
WYWyoming	$43,841	$51,643	-$7,802	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$67,105	$60,381	+$6,724	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$56,827	$63,460	-$6,633	A·B
ARArkansas	$34,549	$41,009	-$6,460	A·B
AZArizona	$48,242	$42,270	+$5,971	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$48,004	$53,950	-$5,946	A·B
MTMontana	$51,364	$45,452	+$5,912	A·B
MIMichigan	$44,720	$49,879	-$5,160	A·B
KSKansas	$35,923	$40,978	-$5,054	A·B
OHOhio	$49,111	$53,697	-$4,586	A·B
TNTennessee	$40,186	$44,516	-$4,331	A·B
IDIdaho	$43,455	$47,778	-$4,323	A·B
WAWashington	$74,600	$78,554	-$3,954	A·B
NYNew York	$66,830	$62,998	+$3,832	A·B
NVNevada	$56,049	$52,334	+$3,714	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$45,296	$48,638	-$3,343	A·B
VAVirginia	$46,486	$49,448	-$2,962	A·B
MDMaryland	$55,494	$58,210	-$2,716	A·B
INIndiana	$49,787	$47,388	+$2,399	A·B
FLFlorida	$49,072	$46,814	+$2,258	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$56,888	$58,725	-$1,837	A·B
OROregon	$54,560	$56,119	-$1,558	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$40,362	$41,640	-$1,278	A·B
CTConnecticut	$59,943	$60,643	-$700	A·B
HIHawaii	$47,018	$47,666	-$647	A·B
TXTexas	$51,065	$51,499	-$434	A·B
IAIowa	$45,040	$45,308	-$268	A·B
MOMissouri	$39,785	$39,618	+$166	A·B
OKOklahoma	$38,580	$38,731	-$152	A·B
NENebraska	$49,706	$49,660	+$45	A·B