Mechanical Engineer vs Police Officer 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 $26,030 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 50 states · Police Officer leads in 1 states

Police Officer

$76,290

national median wage

$62,500/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	Police Officer	Difference
NMNew Mexico	$102,372	$51,262	+$51,110	A·B
LALouisiana	$86,029	$41,690	+$44,339	A·B
WYWyoming	$91,076	$54,552	+$36,524	A·B
MSMississippi	$69,361	$37,335	+$32,026	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$75,598	$44,215	+$31,384	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,786	$46,475	+$31,311	A·B
ALAlabama	$72,844	$43,021	+$29,823	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$76,356	$47,000	+$29,355	A·B
TNTennessee	$78,709	$49,916	+$28,793	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$89,197	$60,422	+$28,776	A·B
GAGeorgia	$72,541	$45,155	+$27,385	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,403	$48,584	+$26,819	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$92,040	$66,431	+$25,609	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$81,917	$56,401	+$25,516	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,049	$60,915	+$25,134	A·B
IDIdaho	$77,114	$52,679	+$24,435	A·B
KSKansas	$69,069	$45,307	+$23,762	A·B
VTVermont	$75,372	$51,612	+$23,760	A·B
MEMaine	$74,474	$51,445	+$23,029	A·B
OKOklahoma	$68,976	$46,233	+$22,743	A·B
MDMaryland	$82,482	$59,994	+$22,488	A·B
TXTexas	$84,977	$62,542	+$22,435	A·B
VAVirginia	$73,824	$51,566	+$22,258	A·B
ARArkansas	$61,223	$39,129	+$22,095	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$72,560	$50,631	+$21,929	A·B
MOMissouri	$70,093	$49,052	+$21,041	A·B
AKAlaska	$100,114	$79,391	+$20,723	A·B
MTMontana	$74,406	$55,423	+$18,983	A·B
MIMichigan	$76,985	$58,272	+$18,713	A·B
INIndiana	$75,720	$57,077	+$18,643	A·B
IAIowa	$74,375	$58,622	+$15,752	A·B
AZArizona	$78,786	$63,085	+$15,700	A·B
CTConnecticut	$78,677	$63,289	+$15,388	A·B
FLFlorida	$77,203	$62,430	+$14,774	A·B
DEDelaware	$77,656	$63,127	+$14,529	A·B
UTUtah	$74,098	$59,716	+$14,382	A·B
NVNevada	$77,850	$64,174	+$13,676	A·B
OHOhio	$74,731	$61,698	+$13,033	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$79,491	$67,981	+$11,510	A·B
WIWisconsin	$71,891	$61,587	+$10,304	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,255	$63,297	+$9,958	A·B
OROregon	$71,821	$63,720	+$8,100	A·B
COColorado	$80,804	$72,916	+$7,888	A·B
NYNew York	$77,627	$69,841	+$7,786	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,394	$66,926	+$7,468	A·B
NENebraska	$63,833	$57,023	+$6,810	A·B
CACalifornia	$89,978	$83,373	+$6,606	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$67,559	$61,752	+$5,807	A·B
WAWashington	$85,772	$81,037	+$4,735	A·B
HIHawaii	$70,130	$66,452	+$3,677	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,198	$75,375	-$1,177	A·B