Mechanical Engineer vs Plumber 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)

Mechanical Engineer earns $39,350 more nationally

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

Plumber

$62,970

national median wage

$52,776/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	Plumber	Difference
NMNew Mexico	$102,372	$48,478	+$53,894	A·B
WYWyoming	$91,076	$51,579	+$39,497	A·B
TXTexas	$84,977	$49,233	+$35,744	A·B
CACalifornia	$89,978	$54,543	+$35,436	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$75,598	$40,465	+$35,134	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$76,356	$41,625	+$34,731	A·B
FLFlorida	$77,203	$42,789	+$34,414	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,049	$52,303	+$33,746	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,786	$44,111	+$33,676	A·B
LALouisiana	$86,029	$52,627	+$33,402	A·B
AKAlaska	$100,114	$67,284	+$32,830	A·B
MDMaryland	$82,482	$50,376	+$32,106	A·B
IDIdaho	$77,114	$46,097	+$31,017	A·B
TNTennessee	$78,709	$48,566	+$30,143	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$81,917	$52,021	+$29,896	A·B
ALAlabama	$72,844	$43,013	+$29,830	A·B
COColorado	$80,804	$51,200	+$29,604	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$72,560	$42,990	+$29,570	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$92,040	$62,485	+$29,555	A·B
AZArizona	$78,786	$50,803	+$27,983	A·B
GAGeorgia	$72,541	$45,110	+$27,430	A·B
NVNevada	$77,850	$50,486	+$27,364	A·B
DEDelaware	$77,656	$50,840	+$26,816	A·B
VAVirginia	$73,824	$47,426	+$26,398	A·B
VTVermont	$75,372	$49,237	+$26,134	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$89,197	$63,460	+$25,737	A·B
MEMaine	$74,474	$48,913	+$25,561	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,403	$50,229	+$25,174	A·B
UTUtah	$74,098	$49,008	+$25,090	A·B
IAIowa	$74,375	$49,663	+$24,711	A·B
OKOklahoma	$68,976	$44,322	+$24,655	A·B
INIndiana	$75,720	$52,179	+$23,541	A·B
OHOhio	$74,731	$51,486	+$23,246	A·B
MSMississippi	$69,361	$46,764	+$22,597	A·B
CTConnecticut	$78,677	$56,972	+$21,705	A·B
WAWashington	$85,772	$64,456	+$21,316	A·B
ARArkansas	$61,223	$40,359	+$20,864	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,394	$53,672	+$20,722	A·B
MOMissouri	$70,093	$50,088	+$20,005	A·B
KSKansas	$69,069	$49,950	+$19,119	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$79,491	$60,387	+$19,104	A·B
NYNew York	$77,627	$60,387	+$17,240	A·B
MIMichigan	$76,985	$59,998	+$16,988	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$67,559	$52,535	+$15,024	A·B
MTMontana	$74,406	$60,612	+$13,794	A·B
NENebraska	$63,833	$50,555	+$13,279	A·B
WIWisconsin	$71,891	$61,281	+$10,610	A·B
HIHawaii	$70,130	$59,644	+$10,486	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,255	$63,278	+$9,977	A·B
OROregon	$71,821	$66,782	+$5,039	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,198	$71,890	+$2,309	A·B