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

$99,030

national median wage

$78,498/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $29,870 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 51 states · Police Officer leads in 0 states

Police Officer

$69,160

national median wage

$57,484/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
LALouisiana	$70,732	$40,469	+$30,263	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$36,486	+$29,720	A·B
TNTennessee	$73,186	$43,705	+$29,481	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$33,299	+$29,380	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$40,619	+$28,603	A·B
TXTexas	$81,628	$53,267	+$28,362	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$50,784	+$27,603	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$44,001	+$27,585	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$36,305	+$27,428	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$39,709	+$27,013	A·B
WAWashington	$93,137	$66,285	+$26,853	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$46,372	+$26,639	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$43,723	+$26,622	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$37,807	+$26,333	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$54,632	+$24,885	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$47,072	+$24,884	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$44,687	+$24,788	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$61,908	+$24,140	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$43,093	+$23,874	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$51,746	+$23,673	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$44,637	+$23,590	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$51,101	+$23,435	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$51,442	+$23,381	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$51,975	+$22,640	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$50,903	+$22,386	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$47,277	+$21,816	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$49,942	+$21,710	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$45,817	+$21,662	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$44,648	+$21,407	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$46,180	+$21,387	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$52,648	+$21,242	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$56,857	+$20,972	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$45,222	+$20,946	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$50,049	+$20,589	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$62,646	+$19,925	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$59,480	+$19,695	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$48,278	+$19,382	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$45,969	+$19,329	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$54,183	+$18,968	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$55,617	+$18,764	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$60,881	+$18,123	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$56,361	+$17,963	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$61,801	+$17,884	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$56,611	+$17,216	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$59,032	+$17,212	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$59,222	+$16,005	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$58,406	+$15,604	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$67,614	+$14,949	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$66,849	+$14,792	A·B
CACalifornia	$83,114	$77,107	+$6,007	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$64,767	+$3,974	A·B