Mechanical Engineer vs Dental Hygienist Salary After Tax (2026)

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

Mechanical Engineer

$102,320

national median wage

$80,812/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $8,060 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 44 states · Dental Hygienist leads in 7 states

Dental Hygienist

$94,260

national median wage

$75,142/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

Sorted by largest difference. Positive difference = Mechanical Engineer earns more after tax.

State	Mechanical Engineer	Dental Hygienist	Difference
NMNew Mexico	$102,372	$73,261	+$29,111	A·B
ALAlabama	$72,844	$47,534	+$25,309	A·B
WYWyoming	$91,076	$66,672	+$24,404	A·B
LALouisiana	$86,029	$63,702	+$22,327	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,049	$64,638	+$21,411	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$75,598	$57,289	+$18,309	A·B
MSMississippi	$69,361	$53,124	+$16,237	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,786	$62,567	+$15,219	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,403	$60,716	+$14,687	A·B
MIMichigan	$76,985	$62,615	+$14,370	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$89,197	$74,916	+$14,281	A·B
TNTennessee	$78,709	$66,383	+$12,325	A·B
IDIdaho	$77,114	$64,969	+$12,145	A·B
FLFlorida	$77,203	$65,877	+$11,326	A·B
WAWashington	$85,772	$96,956	-$11,185	A·B
UTUtah	$74,098	$63,272	+$10,826	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,394	$63,670	+$10,724	A·B
OROregon	$71,821	$82,287	-$10,466	A·B
OHOhio	$74,731	$64,788	+$9,944	A·B
IAIowa	$74,375	$64,525	+$9,849	A·B
TXTexas	$84,977	$75,304	+$9,673	A·B
GAGeorgia	$72,541	$63,861	+$8,679	A·B
MEMaine	$74,474	$66,384	+$8,090	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$76,356	$68,877	+$7,479	A·B
WIWisconsin	$71,891	$64,755	+$7,136	A·B
CTConnecticut	$78,677	$72,011	+$6,666	A·B
KSKansas	$69,069	$62,780	+$6,289	A·B
NYNew York	$77,627	$71,459	+$6,168	A·B
INIndiana	$75,720	$69,715	+$6,005	A·B
MOMissouri	$70,093	$64,434	+$5,659	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$81,917	$76,887	+$5,030	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$72,560	$68,135	+$4,425	A·B
MDMaryland	$82,482	$78,165	+$4,317	A·B
DEDelaware	$77,656	$73,640	+$4,016	A·B
NVNevada	$77,850	$81,403	-$3,553	A·B
OKOklahoma	$68,976	$72,499	-$3,523	A·B
ARArkansas	$61,223	$64,672	-$3,449	A·B
AZArizona	$78,786	$75,407	+$3,379	A·B
CACalifornia	$89,978	$86,840	+$3,138	A·B
MTMontana	$74,406	$71,488	+$2,918	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$79,491	$76,663	+$2,828	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,198	$72,079	+$2,119	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$92,040	$90,783	+$1,257	A·B
NENebraska	$63,833	$65,077	-$1,244	A·B
HIHawaii	$70,130	$71,083	-$954	A·B
COColorado	$80,804	$79,927	+$877	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$67,559	$66,868	+$691	A·B
VTVermont	$75,372	$74,715	+$657	A·B
VAVirginia	$73,824	$73,521	+$304	A·B
AKAlaska	$100,114	$99,957	+$157	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,255	$73,249	+$6	A·B