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

$102,320

national median wage

$80,812/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $8,720 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 44 states · Registered Nurse leads in 7 states

Registered Nurse

$93,600

national median wage

$74,678/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
NMNew Mexico	$102,372	$67,927	+$34,445	A·B
HIHawaii	$70,130	$95,593	-$25,464	A·B
WYWyoming	$91,076	$66,369	+$24,707	A·B
LALouisiana	$86,029	$62,342	+$23,687	A·B
ALAlabama	$72,844	$55,520	+$17,324	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,786	$61,403	+$16,384	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$92,040	$76,463	+$15,577	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$72,560	$57,730	+$14,830	A·B
TNTennessee	$78,709	$64,428	+$14,281	A·B
OROregon	$71,821	$85,760	-$13,939	A·B
IAIowa	$74,375	$60,659	+$13,716	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$75,598	$62,086	+$13,512	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$89,197	$75,687	+$13,510	A·B
AKAlaska	$100,114	$86,700	+$13,414	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,403	$62,367	+$13,036	A·B
TXTexas	$84,977	$72,152	+$12,825	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$76,356	$63,661	+$12,695	A·B
INIndiana	$75,720	$63,278	+$12,442	A·B
MEMaine	$74,474	$62,693	+$11,780	A·B
MTMontana	$74,406	$62,960	+$11,445	A·B
IDIdaho	$77,114	$65,691	+$11,423	A·B
MIMichigan	$76,985	$65,709	+$11,277	A·B
UTUtah	$74,098	$63,048	+$11,050	A·B
MSMississippi	$69,361	$58,573	+$10,789	A·B
OHOhio	$74,731	$64,537	+$10,194	A·B
FLFlorida	$77,203	$67,115	+$10,088	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,049	$76,006	+$10,043	A·B
VTVermont	$75,372	$65,573	+$9,798	A·B
MDMaryland	$82,482	$72,714	+$9,768	A·B
KSKansas	$69,069	$60,189	+$8,880	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,198	$65,487	+$8,711	A·B
DEDelaware	$77,656	$69,107	+$8,549	A·B
CACalifornia	$89,978	$98,222	-$8,243	A·B
MOMissouri	$70,093	$62,136	+$7,957	A·B
COColorado	$80,804	$73,193	+$7,611	A·B
VAVirginia	$73,824	$67,022	+$6,802	A·B
GAGeorgia	$72,541	$65,855	+$6,685	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,394	$67,774	+$6,620	A·B
OKOklahoma	$68,976	$62,819	+$6,157	A·B
WIWisconsin	$71,891	$66,199	+$5,692	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$81,917	$76,950	+$4,967	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$67,559	$63,619	+$3,940	A·B
AZArizona	$78,786	$74,972	+$3,813	A·B
CTConnecticut	$78,677	$75,453	+$3,224	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$79,491	$76,747	+$2,745	A·B
NVNevada	$77,850	$80,580	-$2,730	A·B
WAWashington	$85,772	$87,749	-$1,977	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,255	$74,456	-$1,201	A·B
NENebraska	$63,833	$62,853	+$980	A·B
ARArkansas	$61,223	$60,267	+$957	A·B
NYNew York	$77,627	$77,929	-$303	A·B