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

$56,780

national median wage

$47,803/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Elementary School Teacher earns $4,910 more nationally

Firefighter leads in 13 states · Elementary School Teacher leads in 38 states

Elementary School Teacher

$61,690

national median wage

$51,748/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
GAGeorgia	$36,096	$48,192	-$12,096	A·B
ALAlabama	$32,131	$42,755	-$10,624	A·B
ARArkansas	$30,745	$41,109	-$10,364	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$33,261	$43,141	-$9,880	A·B
VTVermont	$39,868	$49,189	-$9,321	A·B
KYKentucky	$36,229	$45,345	-$9,116	A·B
LALouisiana	$34,383	$43,459	-$9,076	A·B
DEDelaware	$44,215	$53,265	-$9,051	A·B
VAVirginia	$42,064	$51,098	-$9,034	A·B
TNTennessee	$35,469	$44,235	-$8,766	A·B
MIMichigan	$45,361	$53,705	-$8,344	A·B
RIRhode Island	$52,105	$60,251	-$8,146	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$47,335	$55,408	-$8,073	A·B
MSMississippi	$28,616	$36,151	-$7,535	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$33,406	$40,659	-$7,253	A·B
HIHawaii	$56,073	$49,130	+$6,943	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$35,695	$42,514	-$6,819	A·B
OHOhio	$45,972	$51,737	-$5,765	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$58,777	$64,495	-$5,718	A·B
TXTexas	$45,111	$50,703	-$5,592	A·B
NYNew York	$57,054	$62,644	-$5,590	A·B
CACalifornia	$69,103	$63,810	+$5,293	A·B
MEMaine	$39,360	$44,519	-$5,159	A·B
COColorado	$50,997	$45,894	+$5,104	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$39,911	$44,906	-$4,995	A·B
IAIowa	$39,912	$44,577	-$4,666	A·B
CTConnecticut	$56,251	$60,615	-$4,364	A·B
WAWashington	$61,192	$56,956	+$4,235	A·B
WIWisconsin	$44,111	$48,193	-$4,083	A·B
OKOklahoma	$33,283	$37,010	-$3,727	A·B
AZArizona	$46,889	$43,254	+$3,636	A·B
INIndiana	$41,193	$44,223	-$3,030	A·B
UTUtah	$42,750	$39,730	+$3,020	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$48,325	$50,551	-$2,226	A·B
MDMaryland	$52,727	$54,761	-$2,034	A·B
AKAlaska	$59,081	$57,175	+$1,906	A·B
FLFlorida	$44,308	$46,051	-$1,744	A·B
NVNevada	$53,146	$51,402	+$1,744	A·B
WYWyoming	$47,522	$49,169	-$1,647	A·B
IDIdaho	$37,640	$39,280	-$1,640	A·B
MTMontana	$40,450	$38,820	+$1,630	A·B
NENebraska	$40,894	$42,362	-$1,468	A·B
MNMinnesota	$48,403	$49,514	-$1,111	A·B
KSKansas	$39,865	$40,887	-$1,023	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$36,273	$37,060	-$787	A·B
ILIllinois	$54,357	$53,625	+$732	A·B
OROregon	$50,261	$50,921	-$660	A·B
MOMissouri	$41,233	$40,591	+$642	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$59,421	$59,056	+$365	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$59,856	$60,150	-$294	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$43,099	$42,829	+$269	A·B