Mechanical Engineer vs Real Estate Agent 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 $39,600 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 51 states · Real Estate Agent leads in 0 states

Real Estate Agent

$59,430

national median wage

$49,932/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	Real Estate Agent	Difference
WAWashington	$93,137	$59,081	+$34,056	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$40,420	+$32,591	A·B
LALouisiana	$70,732	$38,225	+$32,507	A·B
TXTexas	$81,628	$49,932	+$31,696	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$43,839	+$31,580	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$43,644	+$31,178	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$35,898	+$30,308	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$32,399	+$30,280	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$43,360	+$29,929	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$53,146	+$29,418	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$34,918	+$29,222	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$34,527	+$29,205	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$37,819	+$28,903	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$38,519	+$28,447	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$50,856	+$28,319	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$39,165	+$28,314	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$46,459	+$28,157	A·B
TNTennessee	$73,186	$45,111	+$28,075	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$41,420	+$28,055	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$51,539	+$27,979	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$40,290	+$27,937	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$46,562	+$27,819	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$43,099	+$27,539	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$44,488	+$27,468	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$41,989	+$27,104	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$55,510	+$27,061	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$40,611	+$26,956	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$47,668	+$26,868	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$44,797	+$26,788	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$51,762	+$26,625	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$46,718	+$26,433	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$42,874	+$26,348	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$48,113	+$26,210	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$44,329	+$26,016	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$45,778	+$25,873	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$55,979	+$25,663	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$53,390	+$25,615	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$48,325	+$25,565	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$48,403	+$25,423	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$48,618	+$25,392	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$52,516	+$25,313	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$49,932	+$25,294	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$42,384	+$25,276	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$52,105	+$24,139	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$62,514	+$23,534	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$42,684	+$23,484	A·B
CACalifornia	$83,114	$59,945	+$23,168	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$43,604	+$22,450	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$57,703	+$21,982	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$44,512	+$20,787	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$52,347	+$16,394	A·B