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

$99,030

national median wage

$78,498/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $37,480 more nationally

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

Plumber

$61,550

national median wage

$51,635/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
TXTexas	$81,628	$48,325	+$33,303	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$46,085	+$32,302	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$42,332	+$29,254	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$45,553	+$28,337	A·B
WAWashington	$93,137	$64,857	+$28,281	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$46,663	+$27,872	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$41,358	+$27,863	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$42,870	+$27,475	A·B
TNTennessee	$73,186	$45,874	+$27,312	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$52,383	+$27,135	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$52,772	+$26,233	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$40,411	+$25,794	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$52,106	+$25,723	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$46,836	+$25,120	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$44,393	+$25,083	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$50,064	+$24,551	A·B
LALouisiana	$70,732	$46,200	+$24,532	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$42,589	+$24,133	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$39,033	+$23,645	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$40,156	+$23,577	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$48,087	+$23,564	A·B
CACalifornia	$83,114	$59,915	+$23,199	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$63,021	+$23,027	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$56,205	+$22,970	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$52,062	+$22,760	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$50,423	+$22,588	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$54,102	+$21,317	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$61,332	+$21,239	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$47,047	+$21,179	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$44,954	+$21,101	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$46,613	+$20,954	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$46,070	+$20,896	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$43,911	+$20,229	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$55,147	+$20,080	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$61,596	+$20,045	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$45,609	+$19,690	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$54,673	+$19,650	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$54,756	+$18,533	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$47,679	+$18,489	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$49,500	+$18,160	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$58,293	+$17,951	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$56,760	+$17,621	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$51,697	+$17,396	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$50,131	+$17,347	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$56,830	+$16,321	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$57,812	+$16,015	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$64,506	+$15,180	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$68,142	+$14,422	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$56,914	+$13,723	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$61,165	+$12,845	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$60,855	+$7,887	A·B