Mechanical Engineer vs Firefighter 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 $42,250 more nationally

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

Firefighter

$56,780

national median wage

$47,803/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	Firefighter	Difference
TNTennessee	$73,186	$35,469	+$37,717	A·B
TXTexas	$81,628	$45,111	+$36,517	A·B
LALouisiana	$70,732	$34,383	+$36,349	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$42,064	+$36,323	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$33,261	+$35,961	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$35,695	+$35,890	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$36,096	+$34,249	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$32,131	+$34,075	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$28,616	+$34,063	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$33,283	+$33,439	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$30,745	+$32,988	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$39,868	+$32,088	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$36,273	+$31,954	A·B
WAWashington	$93,137	$61,192	+$31,946	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$41,193	+$31,818	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$48,325	+$31,193	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$36,229	+$30,738	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$33,406	+$30,734	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$44,215	+$30,401	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$45,361	+$30,058	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$44,308	+$29,582	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$39,911	+$29,564	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$44,111	+$29,178	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$42,750	+$28,901	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$45,972	+$28,851	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$37,640	+$28,414	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$41,233	+$27,860	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$39,865	+$27,703	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$46,889	+$27,647	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$39,912	+$27,567	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$43,099	+$27,539	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$47,335	+$27,046	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$50,997	+$26,832	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$40,894	+$26,766	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$59,421	+$26,626	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$52,727	+$26,278	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$39,360	+$25,939	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$40,450	+$25,718	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$47,522	+$25,630	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$48,403	+$25,423	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$52,105	+$24,139	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$50,261	+$24,062	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$58,777	+$23,794	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$59,081	+$23,483	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$56,251	+$22,924	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$57,054	+$22,631	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$53,146	+$22,080	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$59,856	+$21,785	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$54,357	+$19,653	A·B
CACalifornia	$83,114	$69,103	+$14,011	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$56,073	+$12,668	A·B