Mechanical Engineer vs Software Developer 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)

Software Developer earns $30,760 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 6 states · Software Developer leads in 45 states

Software Developer

$133,080

national median wage

$102,226/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	Software Developer	Difference
WAWashington	$85,772	$125,349	-$39,577	A·B
NYNew York	$77,627	$113,013	-$35,387	A·B
CACalifornia	$89,978	$116,279	-$26,301	A·B
VAVirginia	$73,824	$96,258	-$22,434	A·B
NENebraska	$63,833	$86,146	-$22,313	A·B
NVNevada	$77,850	$99,458	-$21,608	A·B
GAGeorgia	$72,541	$93,315	-$20,774	A·B
OROregon	$71,821	$92,395	-$20,575	A·B
FLFlorida	$77,203	$97,763	-$20,560	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$81,917	$101,775	-$19,858	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$76,356	$96,086	-$19,731	A·B
VTVermont	$75,372	$94,446	-$19,074	A·B
UTUtah	$74,098	$92,648	-$18,550	A·B
DEDelaware	$77,656	$95,966	-$18,310	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,198	$92,417	-$18,219	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,394	$92,043	-$17,649	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$89,197	$106,840	-$17,643	A·B
AZArizona	$78,786	$96,411	-$17,625	A·B
COColorado	$80,804	$98,013	-$17,209	A·B
MDMaryland	$82,482	$99,233	-$16,751	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,255	$89,444	-$16,189	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$79,491	$95,517	-$16,026	A·B
TXTexas	$84,977	$100,463	-$15,486	A·B
HIHawaii	$70,130	$85,585	-$15,455	A·B
CTConnecticut	$78,677	$94,113	-$15,436	A·B
MOMissouri	$70,093	$84,969	-$14,876	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$102,372	$89,238	+$13,135	A·B
TNTennessee	$78,709	$91,379	-$12,670	A·B
ARArkansas	$61,223	$73,351	-$12,127	A·B
OKOklahoma	$68,976	$80,112	-$11,135	A·B
ALAlabama	$72,844	$82,954	-$10,110	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$67,559	$77,497	-$9,939	A·B
KSKansas	$69,069	$78,713	-$9,644	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,049	$94,696	-$8,647	A·B
IAIowa	$74,375	$82,547	-$8,172	A·B
LALouisiana	$86,029	$78,109	+$7,920	A·B
MEMaine	$74,474	$82,247	-$7,774	A·B
OHOhio	$74,731	$82,411	-$7,679	A·B
AKAlaska	$100,114	$92,969	+$7,146	A·B
WIWisconsin	$71,891	$77,446	-$5,555	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,403	$79,942	-$4,539	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$92,040	$95,654	-$3,615	A·B
MIMichigan	$76,985	$80,350	-$3,365	A·B
WYWyoming	$91,076	$88,037	+$3,039	A·B
INIndiana	$75,720	$78,666	-$2,945	A·B
MSMississippi	$69,361	$66,528	+$2,833	A·B
IDIdaho	$77,114	$79,872	-$2,758	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$77,786	$79,929	-$2,143	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$72,560	$70,576	+$1,984	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$75,598	$77,525	-$1,927	A·B
MTMontana	$74,406	$75,014	-$608	A·B