Mechanical Engineer vs Dentist 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)

Dentist earns $70,470 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 0 states · Dentist leads in 51 states

Dentist

$172,790

national median wage

$129,368/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	Dentist	Difference
VTVermont	$75,372	$156,933	-$81,562	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$67,559	$147,204	-$79,645	A·B
DEDelaware	$77,656	$152,975	-$75,319	A·B
WIWisconsin	$71,891	$144,253	-$72,362	A·B
AKAlaska	$100,114	$170,597	-$70,483	A·B
AZArizona	$78,786	$149,068	-$70,283	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,255	$142,522	-$69,266	A·B
MEMaine	$74,474	$142,015	-$67,541	A·B
GAGeorgia	$72,541	$136,271	-$63,730	A·B
WAWashington	$85,772	$147,399	-$61,627	A·B
ARArkansas	$61,223	$122,620	-$61,396	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$76,356	$135,303	-$58,947	A·B
NENebraska	$63,833	$119,232	-$55,399	A·B
CTConnecticut	$78,677	$133,536	-$54,859	A·B
VAVirginia	$73,824	$126,369	-$52,545	A·B
MOMissouri	$70,093	$122,184	-$52,091	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,198	$125,797	-$51,599	A·B
INIndiana	$75,720	$127,047	-$51,327	A·B
IAIowa	$74,375	$124,834	-$50,459	A·B
OROregon	$71,821	$122,010	-$50,190	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$72,560	$122,581	-$50,021	A·B
KSKansas	$69,069	$118,831	-$49,762	A·B
MDMaryland	$82,482	$131,910	-$49,428	A·B
ALAlabama	$72,844	$120,993	-$48,150	A·B
MIMichigan	$76,985	$125,025	-$48,040	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,394	$121,419	-$47,025	A·B
OKOklahoma	$68,976	$115,108	-$46,132	A·B
FLFlorida	$77,203	$122,588	-$45,384	A·B
LALouisiana	$86,029	$129,021	-$42,992	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$81,917	$122,020	-$40,104	A·B
IDIdaho	$77,114	$117,135	-$40,021	A·B
OHOhio	$74,731	$114,102	-$39,371	A·B
MTMontana	$74,406	$112,621	-$38,215	A·B
TNTennessee	$78,709	$116,839	-$38,131	A·B
NYNew York	$77,627	$114,762	-$37,135	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,049	$122,762	-$36,713	A·B
TXTexas	$84,977	$118,828	-$33,852	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,786	$111,223	-$33,437	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$79,491	$112,537	-$33,046	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$89,197	$120,948	-$31,751	A·B
CACalifornia	$89,978	$120,785	-$30,806	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$75,598	$105,773	-$30,175	A·B
HIHawaii	$70,130	$97,812	-$27,682	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$92,040	$117,649	-$25,610	A·B
MSMississippi	$69,361	$94,333	-$24,971	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,403	$99,288	-$23,885	A·B
UTUtah	$74,098	$95,764	-$21,666	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$102,372	$121,560	-$19,187	A·B
NVNevada	$77,850	$96,827	-$18,976	A·B
COColorado	$80,804	$99,113	-$18,309	A·B
WYWyoming	$91,076	$97,975	-$6,899	A·B