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

$145,760

national median wage

$110,893/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Lawyer earns $15,600 more nationally

Lawyer leads in 43 states · Software Developer leads in 8 states

Software Developer

$130,160

national median wage

$100,230/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.	$146,590	$102,760	+$43,830	A·B
NYNew York	$136,214	$100,770	+$35,443	A·B
CACalifornia	$122,245	$107,896	+$14,349	A·B
MDMaryland	$108,366	$94,616	+$13,750	A·B
ILIllinois	$101,053	$88,365	+$12,687	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$109,108	$97,840	+$11,268	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$116,066	$105,081	+$10,985	A·B
FLFlorida	$97,681	$87,045	+$10,636	A·B
VAVirginia	$104,954	$94,343	+$10,611	A·B
DEDelaware	$98,602	$88,339	+$10,263	A·B
CTConnecticut	$101,021	$90,977	+$10,045	A·B
RIRhode Island	$95,718	$86,248	+$9,471	A·B
TXTexas	$105,883	$96,697	+$9,186	A·B
LALouisiana	$78,631	$69,635	+$8,996	A·B
NVNevada	$95,630	$86,672	+$8,958	A·B
WAWashington	$109,300	$117,625	-$8,325	A·B
OROregon	$84,752	$91,481	-$6,729	A·B
ARArkansas	$74,355	$67,678	+$6,677	A·B
MSMississippi	$70,557	$64,235	+$6,322	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$72,620	$66,619	+$6,001	A·B
ALAlabama	$77,315	$71,355	+$5,960	A·B
MOMissouri	$86,103	$80,145	+$5,958	A·B
UTUtah	$82,163	$88,004	-$5,841	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$81,567	$76,164	+$5,403	A·B
TNTennessee	$87,221	$81,818	+$5,403	A·B
AKAlaska	$93,553	$88,220	+$5,333	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$78,076	$73,524	+$4,552	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$80,093	$75,758	+$4,336	A·B
OHOhio	$88,134	$84,172	+$3,962	A·B
WYWyoming	$80,186	$76,373	+$3,813	A·B
MIMichigan	$87,350	$83,543	+$3,807	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$92,494	$88,765	+$3,729	A·B
MNMinnesota	$92,040	$88,626	+$3,413	A·B
KYKentucky	$78,909	$75,685	+$3,225	A·B
OKOklahoma	$75,906	$72,823	+$3,083	A·B
IDIdaho	$76,441	$79,120	-$2,679	A·B
COColorado	$97,237	$99,872	-$2,635	A·B
GAGeorgia	$88,237	$85,747	+$2,490	A·B
INIndiana	$81,834	$79,788	+$2,046	A·B
IAIowa	$77,176	$75,379	+$1,797	A·B
AZArizona	$93,203	$91,471	+$1,732	A·B
HIHawaii	$81,534	$79,876	+$1,658	A·B
KSKansas	$78,422	$76,832	+$1,590	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$85,414	$86,804	-$1,389	A·B
WIWisconsin	$83,697	$82,565	+$1,132	A·B
MTMontana	$74,282	$75,023	-$741	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$78,370	$77,657	+$713	A·B
NENebraska	$79,272	$78,801	+$471	A·B
MEMaine	$76,675	$76,314	+$360	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$93,553	$93,834	-$281	A·B
VTVermont	$80,212	$80,129	+$83	A·B