Mechanical Engineer vs Physical Therapist 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)
VS
Physical Therapist earns $680 more nationally
Mechanical Engineer leads in 29 states · Physical Therapist leads in 16 states
Physical Therapist
$99,710
national median wage
$78,976/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 | Physical Therapist | |
|---|---|---|---|
WAWashington | $93,137 | $85,111 | |
HIHawaii | $68,742 | $76,566 | |
AKAlaska | $82,564 | $87,925 | |
MEMaine | $65,299 | $69,723 | |
DCWashington D.C. | $86,048 | $81,687 | |
TXTexas | $81,628 | $77,372 | |
COColorado | $77,830 | $73,727 | |
MIMichigan | $75,419 | $71,486 | |
VAVirginia | $78,387 | $74,479 | |
NJNew Jersey | $81,641 | $78,410 | |
MAMassachusetts | $82,571 | $79,689 | |
NVNevada | $75,226 | $78,076 | |
LALouisiana | $70,732 | $68,055 | |
IDIdaho | $66,055 | $68,695 | |
MTMontana | $66,168 | $68,482 | |
CTConnecticut | $79,175 | $76,981 | |
UTUtah | $71,651 | $69,680 | |
NYNew York | $79,685 | $77,722 | |
INIndiana | $73,011 | $71,066 | |
OHOhio | $74,823 | $73,437 | |
FLFlorida | $73,890 | $75,262 | |
NHNew Hampshire | $79,518 | $80,890 | |
MDMaryland | $79,005 | $77,662 | |
ILIllinois | $74,010 | $72,669 | |
NCNorth Carolina | $71,586 | $70,269 | |
MSMississippi | $62,679 | $63,992 | |
WIWisconsin | $73,289 | $71,988 | |
IAIowa | $67,479 | $66,186 | |
RIRhode Island | $76,244 | $77,523 | |
OROregon | $74,323 | $73,060 | |
AZArizona | $74,536 | $75,615 | |
KSKansas | $67,568 | $66,785 | |
ARArkansas | $63,733 | $64,507 | |
TNTennessee | $73,186 | $72,448 | |
PAPennsylvania | $74,381 | $75,054 | |
VTVermont | $71,956 | $71,287 | |
MNMinnesota | $73,827 | $73,159 | |
KYKentucky | $66,966 | $67,630 | |
ALAlabama | $66,206 | $65,552 | |
SCSouth Carolina | $69,222 | $68,582 | |
MOMissouri | $69,093 | $69,716 | |
CACalifornia | $83,114 | $82,534 | |
NMNew Mexico | $69,476 | $69,207 | |
GAGeorgia | $70,345 | $70,079 | |
DEDelaware | $74,615 | $74,730 | |
NENebraska | $67,660 | $67,660 | |
NDNorth Dakota | $70,638 | $70,638 | |
OKOklahoma | $66,722 | $66,722 | |
SDSouth Dakota | $68,227 | $68,227 | |
WVWest Virginia | $64,140 | $64,140 | |
WYWyoming | $73,151 | $73,151 |
Single filer, standard deduction, no additional contributions. Wage data: BLS OEWS May 2023.
Compare Other Occupations vs Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical Engineer
vs Software Developer
$130,160
Mechanical Engineer
vs Registered Nurse
$81,220
Mechanical Engineer
vs Financial Analyst
$96,220
Mechanical Engineer
vs Elementary School Teacher
$61,690
Mechanical Engineer
vs Electrician
$61,590
Mechanical Engineer
vs Accountant
$79,880
Mechanical Engineer
vs Physician (General Practice)
$214,370
Mechanical Engineer
vs Police Officer
$69,160
Mechanical Engineer
vs Plumber
$61,550
Mechanical Engineer
vs Marketing Manager
$140,040
Mechanical Engineer
vs Dental Hygienist
$81,400
Mechanical Engineer
vs Truck Driver (Heavy)
$54,320
Mechanical Engineer
vs Pharmacist
$132,750
Mechanical Engineer
vs Lawyer
$145,760
Mechanical Engineer
vs Civil Engineer
$95,890
Mechanical Engineer
vs Construction Manager
$104,900
Mechanical Engineer
vs Graphic Designer
$58,910
Mechanical Engineer
vs Nurse Practitioner
$126,260
Mechanical Engineer
vs Product Manager
$130,000
Mechanical Engineer
vs Real Estate Agent
$59,430
Mechanical Engineer
vs Firefighter
$56,780
Mechanical Engineer
vs Software Engineering Manager
$168,140
Mechanical Engineer
vs Physician Assistant
$130,020
Mechanical Engineer
vs Data Scientist
$108,020
Mechanical Engineer
vs Dentist
$163,220
Mechanical Engineer
vs Electrical Engineer
$103,390
Mechanical Engineer
vs Psychologist
$85,330
Mechanical Engineer
vs Veterinarian
$119,100
Mechanical Engineer
vs Occupational Therapist
$93,180
Mechanical Engineer
vs Human Resources Manager
$136,350
Mechanical Engineer
vs Operations Manager
$101,870
Mechanical Engineer
vs UX Designer
$98,580
Mechanical Engineer
vs Radiologic Technologist
$65,140
Mechanical Engineer
vs Social Worker
$60,840
Compare Other Occupations vs Physical Therapist
Software Developer
vs Physical Therapist
$130,160
Registered Nurse
vs Physical Therapist
$81,220
Financial Analyst
vs Physical Therapist
$96,220
Elementary School Teacher
vs Physical Therapist
$61,690
Electrician
vs Physical Therapist
$61,590
Accountant
vs Physical Therapist
$79,880
Physician (General Practice)
vs Physical Therapist
$214,370
Police Officer
vs Physical Therapist
$69,160
Plumber
vs Physical Therapist
$61,550
Marketing Manager
vs Physical Therapist
$140,040
Dental Hygienist
vs Physical Therapist
$81,400
Truck Driver (Heavy)
vs Physical Therapist
$54,320
Pharmacist
vs Physical Therapist
$132,750
Lawyer
vs Physical Therapist
$145,760
Civil Engineer
vs Physical Therapist
$95,890
Construction Manager
vs Physical Therapist
$104,900
Graphic Designer
vs Physical Therapist
$58,910
Nurse Practitioner
vs Physical Therapist
$126,260
Product Manager
vs Physical Therapist
$130,000
Real Estate Agent
vs Physical Therapist
$59,430
Firefighter
vs Physical Therapist
$56,780
Software Engineering Manager
vs Physical Therapist
$168,140
Physician Assistant
vs Physical Therapist
$130,020
Data Scientist
vs Physical Therapist
$108,020
Dentist
vs Physical Therapist
$163,220
Electrical Engineer
vs Physical Therapist
$103,390
Psychologist
vs Physical Therapist
$85,330
Veterinarian
vs Physical Therapist
$119,100
Occupational Therapist
vs Physical Therapist
$93,180
Human Resources Manager
vs Physical Therapist
$136,350
Operations Manager
vs Physical Therapist
$101,870
UX Designer
vs Physical Therapist
$98,580
Radiologic Technologist
vs Physical Therapist
$65,140
Social Worker
vs Physical Therapist
$60,840