Mechanical Engineer vs Lawyer 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)

Lawyer earns $46,730 more nationally

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

Lawyer

$145,760

national median wage

$110,893/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	Lawyer	Difference
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$146,590	-$60,543	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$136,214	-$56,528	A·B
CACalifornia	$83,114	$122,245	-$39,131	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$116,066	-$33,495	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$108,366	-$29,362	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$109,108	-$27,467	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$101,053	-$27,043	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$104,954	-$26,567	A·B
TXTexas	$81,628	$105,883	-$24,255	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$98,602	-$23,987	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$97,681	-$23,791	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$101,021	-$21,846	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$95,630	-$20,404	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$95,718	-$19,475	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$97,237	-$19,407	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$93,203	-$18,667	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$92,040	-$18,213	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$92,494	-$18,113	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$88,237	-$17,892	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$86,103	-$17,010	A·B
WAWashington	$93,137	$109,300	-$16,163	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$93,553	-$14,035	A·B
TNTennessee	$73,186	$87,221	-$14,035	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$85,414	-$13,829	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$88,134	-$13,311	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$81,534	-$12,793	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$78,909	-$11,943	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$87,350	-$11,931	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$79,272	-$11,612	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$76,675	-$11,376	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$77,315	-$11,110	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$93,553	-$10,989	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$81,567	-$10,930	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$80,093	-$10,872	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$78,422	-$10,855	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$74,355	-$10,622	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$82,163	-$10,512	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$84,752	-$10,429	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$83,697	-$10,408	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$76,441	-$10,386	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$78,076	-$9,849	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$77,176	-$9,698	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$75,906	-$9,184	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$78,370	-$8,895	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$81,834	-$8,823	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$72,620	-$8,480	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$80,212	-$8,256	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$74,282	-$8,114	A·B
LALouisiana	$70,732	$78,631	-$7,899	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$70,557	-$7,878	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$80,186	-$7,035	A·B