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

$102,320

national median wage

$80,812/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $46,000 more nationally

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

Real Estate Agent

$56,320

national median wage

$47,433/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
DCWashington D.C.	$92,040	$35,852	+$56,188	A·B
WYWyoming	$91,076	$36,763	+$54,314	A·B
LALouisiana	$86,029	$33,382	+$52,646	A·B
IDIdaho	$77,114	$30,869	+$46,245	A·B
IAIowa	$74,375	$30,671	+$43,703	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,403	$32,477	+$42,927	A·B
TXTexas	$84,977	$42,476	+$42,501	A·B
MDMaryland	$82,482	$40,170	+$42,312	A·B
CTConnecticut	$78,677	$37,071	+$41,606	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,049	$45,279	+$40,770	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$102,372	$62,378	+$39,994	A·B
CACalifornia	$89,978	$50,396	+$39,582	A·B
DEDelaware	$77,656	$38,994	+$38,662	A·B
OHOhio	$74,731	$36,998	+$37,734	A·B
MOMissouri	$70,093	$32,553	+$37,540	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,786	$40,505	+$37,282	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$76,356	$39,219	+$37,136	A·B
NVNevada	$77,850	$42,347	+$35,503	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$81,917	$46,871	+$35,046	A·B
FLFlorida	$77,203	$42,467	+$34,736	A·B
OROregon	$71,821	$37,166	+$34,655	A·B
AZArizona	$78,786	$44,131	+$34,654	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,255	$38,736	+$34,519	A·B
INIndiana	$75,720	$41,676	+$34,045	A·B
ALAlabama	$72,844	$39,171	+$33,673	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,198	$40,937	+$33,261	A·B
KSKansas	$69,069	$36,095	+$32,974	A·B
MIMichigan	$76,985	$44,742	+$32,243	A·B
HIHawaii	$70,130	$37,891	+$32,238	A·B
WIWisconsin	$71,891	$40,541	+$31,350	A·B
TNTennessee	$78,709	$47,433	+$31,276	A·B
COColorado	$80,804	$49,742	+$31,062	A·B
AKAlaska	$100,114	$69,190	+$30,924	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,394	$43,594	+$30,800	A·B
UTUtah	$74,098	$44,229	+$29,869	A·B
ARArkansas	$61,223	$31,759	+$29,465	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$75,598	$46,477	+$29,122	A·B
MTMontana	$74,406	$45,808	+$28,598	A·B
MSMississippi	$69,361	$41,038	+$28,323	A·B
GAGeorgia	$72,541	$45,035	+$27,506	A·B
MEMaine	$74,474	$47,514	+$26,959	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$72,560	$45,898	+$26,662	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$79,491	$53,603	+$25,888	A·B
VAVirginia	$73,824	$49,089	+$24,735	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$89,197	$64,709	+$24,489	A·B
NENebraska	$63,833	$39,692	+$24,141	A·B
OKOklahoma	$68,976	$45,444	+$23,532	A·B
WAWashington	$85,772	$62,985	+$22,786	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$67,559	$51,860	+$15,698	A·B
VTVermont	$75,372	$63,967	+$11,405	A·B
NYNew York	$77,627	$72,670	+$4,956	A·B