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

$99,030

national median wage

$78,498/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $17,630 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 49 states · Dental Hygienist leads in 2 states

Dental Hygienist

$81,400

national median wage

$66,095/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
TXTexas	$81,628	$60,488	+$21,140	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$53,561	+$19,450	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$58,975	+$19,412	A·B
LALouisiana	$70,732	$52,022	+$18,710	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$56,541	+$18,282	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$48,263	+$17,943	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$57,605	+$17,814	A·B
TNTennessee	$73,186	$55,557	+$17,630	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$57,627	+$16,383	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$46,772	+$15,907	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$52,343	+$15,884	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$53,321	+$15,772	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$51,809	+$15,759	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$48,530	+$15,610	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$56,440	+$15,145	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$52,602	+$14,877	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$59,579	+$14,802	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$59,116	+$14,773	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$54,513	+$14,709	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$52,183	+$14,539	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$58,978	+$14,311	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$49,695	+$14,038	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$53,026	+$13,941	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$60,705	+$13,910	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$56,461	+$13,884	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$57,854	+$13,797	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$72,410	+$13,638	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$66,133	+$13,552	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$54,113	+$13,547	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$66,627	+$12,548	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$66,510	+$12,495	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$65,846	+$11,983	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$59,025	+$11,613	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$70,093	+$11,548	A·B
WAWashington	$93,137	$81,593	+$11,544	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$58,081	+$11,395	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$62,991	+$10,835	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$71,847	+$10,724	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$63,302	+$9,849	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$57,557	+$8,611	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$71,744	+$7,774	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$67,473	+$7,063	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$64,912	+$7,044	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$59,658	+$6,397	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$70,294	+$5,950	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$59,611	+$5,688	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$69,634	+$5,593	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$69,980	+$4,343	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$72,840	-$4,099	A·B
CACalifornia	$83,114	$79,512	+$3,602	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$85,849	-$3,285	A·B