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

$99,030

national median wage

$78,498/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Software Developer earns $31,130 more nationally

Mechanical Engineer leads in 1 states · Software Developer leads in 50 states

Software Developer

$130,160

national median wage

$100,230/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
CACalifornia	$83,114	$107,896	-$24,782	A·B
WAWashington	$93,137	$117,625	-$24,488	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$82,571	$105,081	-$22,510	A·B
COColorado	$77,830	$99,872	-$22,042	A·B
NYNew York	$79,685	$100,770	-$21,085	A·B
OROregon	$74,323	$91,481	-$17,158	A·B
AZArizona	$74,536	$91,471	-$16,935	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$86,048	$102,760	-$16,713	A·B
UTUtah	$71,651	$88,004	-$16,353	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$81,641	$97,840	-$16,199	A·B
VAVirginia	$78,387	$94,343	-$15,956	A·B
MDMaryland	$79,005	$94,616	-$15,612	A·B
GAGeorgia	$70,345	$85,747	-$15,402	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$71,586	$86,804	-$15,218	A·B
TXTexas	$81,628	$96,697	-$15,068	A·B
MNMinnesota	$73,827	$88,626	-$14,800	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$74,381	$88,765	-$14,384	A·B
ILIllinois	$74,010	$88,365	-$14,355	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$79,518	$93,834	-$14,316	A·B
DEDelaware	$74,615	$88,339	-$13,724	A·B
FLFlorida	$73,890	$87,045	-$13,155	A·B
IDIdaho	$66,055	$79,120	-$13,065	A·B
CTConnecticut	$79,175	$90,977	-$11,801	A·B
NVNevada	$75,226	$86,672	-$11,446	A·B
NENebraska	$67,660	$78,801	-$11,141	A·B
HIHawaii	$68,742	$79,876	-$11,135	A·B
MOMissouri	$69,093	$80,145	-$11,052	A·B
MEMaine	$65,299	$76,314	-$11,016	A·B
RIRhode Island	$76,244	$86,248	-$10,004	A·B
OHOhio	$74,823	$84,172	-$9,350	A·B
WIWisconsin	$73,289	$82,565	-$9,276	A·B
KSKansas	$67,568	$76,832	-$9,264	A·B
MTMontana	$66,168	$75,023	-$8,855	A·B
KYKentucky	$66,966	$75,685	-$8,718	A·B
TNTennessee	$73,186	$81,818	-$8,632	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$69,476	$77,657	-$8,181	A·B
VTVermont	$71,956	$80,129	-$8,173	A·B
MIMichigan	$75,419	$83,543	-$8,124	A·B
IAIowa	$67,479	$75,379	-$7,900	A·B
INIndiana	$73,011	$79,788	-$6,777	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$69,222	$75,758	-$6,536	A·B
OKOklahoma	$66,722	$72,823	-$6,101	A·B
AKAlaska	$82,564	$88,220	-$5,656	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$70,638	$76,164	-$5,526	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$68,227	$73,524	-$5,297	A·B
ALAlabama	$66,206	$71,355	-$5,150	A·B
ARArkansas	$63,733	$67,678	-$3,946	A·B
WYWyoming	$73,151	$76,373	-$3,222	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$64,140	$66,619	-$2,479	A·B
MSMississippi	$62,679	$64,235	-$1,556	A·B
LALouisiana	$70,732	$69,635	+$1,097	A·B