Lawyer vs Software Developer Salary After Tax (2026)

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

Lawyer

$151,160

national median wage

$114,584/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Lawyer earns $18,080 more nationally

Lawyer leads in 33 states · Software Developer leads in 18 states

Software Developer

$133,080

national median wage

$102,226/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

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

State	Lawyer	Software Developer	Difference
DCWashington D.C.	$129,532	$95,654	+$33,878	A·B
DEDelaware	$119,153	$95,966	+$23,187	A·B
COColorado	$119,391	$98,013	+$21,378	A·B
ILIllinois	$111,152	$92,417	+$18,735	A·B
VTVermont	$75,735	$94,446	-$18,711	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$124,914	$106,840	+$18,074	A·B
INIndiana	$96,394	$78,666	+$17,728	A·B
CTConnecticut	$111,802	$94,113	+$17,689	A·B
CACalifornia	$132,976	$116,279	+$16,697	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$111,676	$95,517	+$16,158	A·B
NVNevada	$114,584	$99,458	+$15,126	A·B
VAVirginia	$110,976	$96,258	+$14,717	A·B
MIMichigan	$92,667	$80,350	+$12,318	A·B
OHOhio	$94,344	$82,411	+$11,933	A·B
WIWisconsin	$88,251	$77,446	+$10,805	A·B
WAWashington	$115,124	$125,349	-$10,225	A·B
NYNew York	$122,974	$113,013	+$9,961	A·B
ALAlabama	$92,404	$82,954	+$9,450	A·B
TNTennessee	$100,511	$91,379	+$9,132	A·B
AKAlaska	$101,973	$92,969	+$9,005	A·B
WYWyoming	$79,300	$88,037	-$8,737	A·B
MEMaine	$73,741	$82,247	-$8,507	A·B
MNMinnesota	$97,420	$89,444	+$7,976	A·B
NENebraska	$78,612	$86,146	-$7,534	A·B
LALouisiana	$85,052	$78,109	+$6,944	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$95,090	$101,775	-$6,685	A·B
ARArkansas	$66,805	$73,351	-$6,545	A·B
MOMissouri	$91,263	$84,969	+$6,294	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$76,753	$70,576	+$6,177	A·B
OKOklahoma	$74,481	$80,112	-$5,630	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$83,792	$89,238	-$5,445	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$81,868	$77,497	+$4,371	A·B
MSMississippi	$70,609	$66,528	+$4,081	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$92,147	$96,086	-$3,939	A·B
OROregon	$96,054	$92,395	+$3,659	A·B
IDIdaho	$76,216	$79,872	-$3,656	A·B
MDMaryland	$102,767	$99,233	+$3,534	A·B
KSKansas	$82,172	$78,713	+$3,459	A·B
AZArizona	$99,486	$96,411	+$3,075	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,014	$79,929	-$2,915	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$94,785	$92,043	+$2,742	A·B
HIHawaii	$83,156	$85,585	-$2,428	A·B
KYKentucky	$77,582	$79,942	-$2,360	A·B
TXTexas	$102,561	$100,463	+$2,098	A·B
GAGeorgia	$91,622	$93,315	-$1,693	A·B
IAIowa	$81,229	$82,547	-$1,318	A·B
UTUtah	$91,575	$92,648	-$1,073	A·B
FLFlorida	$98,624	$97,763	+$861	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$76,666	$77,525	-$858	A·B
MTMontana	$75,376	$75,014	+$362	A·B
RIRhode Island	$94,861	$94,696	+$165	A·B