Mechanical Engineer vs Registered Nurse 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 $17,810 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 49 states · Registered Nurse leads in 2 states

Registered Nurse

$81,220

national median wage

$65,968/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	Registered Nurse	Difference
TXTexas	$81,628	$63,358	+$18,270	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$60,900	+$17,487	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$49,582	+$16,624	A·B
LALouisiana	$70,732	$54,141	+$16,591	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$56,435	+$16,576	A·B
TNTennessee	$73,186	$56,640	+$16,546	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$51,981	+$16,246	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$59,337	+$16,082	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$58,791	+$16,031	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$51,908	+$15,571	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$52,070	+$15,497	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$62,707	+$15,122	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$52,140	+$14,826	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$54,286	+$14,808	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$54,571	+$14,651	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$52,205	+$14,516	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$56,375	+$14,263	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$57,606	+$13,980	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$57,848	+$13,804	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$56,727	+$13,619	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$54,164	+$13,496	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$65,585	+$13,420	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$49,292	+$13,387	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$61,247	+$13,368	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$59,876	+$13,275	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$60,747	+$13,263	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$60,520	+$12,769	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$61,241	+$12,649	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$51,314	+$12,419	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$62,412	+$11,969	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$74,191	+$11,857	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$67,875	+$11,643	A·B
WAWashington	$93,137	$81,530	+$11,608	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$62,896	+$10,931	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$71,328	+$10,314	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$53,977	+$10,163	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$56,365	+$9,803	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$69,422	+$9,753	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$64,806	+$9,730	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$62,878	+$9,078	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$57,069	+$8,985	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$73,644	+$8,927	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$61,281	+$8,194	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$74,952	-$6,210	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$73,488	+$6,197	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$59,496	+$5,802	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$77,231	+$5,333	A·B
CACalifornia	$83,114	$88,332	-$5,219	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$71,717	+$4,526	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$73,179	+$2,047	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$72,789	+$1,534	A·B