Physical Therapist vs Mechanical Engineer Salary After Tax (2026)
Side-by-side take-home pay comparison across all 50 states. Single filer, standard deduction, 2026 tax rates.
Physical Therapist
$101,020
national median wage
$79,898/yr
take-home in TX (no state tax)
VS
Mechanical Engineer earns $1,300 more nationally
Physical Therapist leads in 20 states · Mechanical Engineer leads in 31 states
Mechanical Engineer
$102,320
national median wage
$80,812/yr
take-home in TX (no state tax)
Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States
Sorted by largest difference. Positive difference = Physical Therapist earns more after tax.
| State | Physical Therapist | Mechanical Engineer | |
|---|---|---|---|
NMNew Mexico | $76,350 | $102,372 | |
DCWashington D.C. | $74,119 | $92,040 | |
AKAlaska | $85,258 | $100,114 | |
MAMassachusetts | $75,877 | $89,197 | |
ARArkansas | $73,364 | $61,223 | |
WYWyoming | $79,975 | $91,076 | |
NENebraska | $73,065 | $63,833 | |
LALouisiana | $76,937 | $86,029 | |
RIRhode Island | $77,934 | $86,049 | |
IDIdaho | $70,577 | $77,114 | |
OKOklahoma | $74,712 | $68,976 | |
COColorado | $75,647 | $80,804 | |
WAWashington | $80,685 | $85,772 | |
NVNevada | $82,817 | $77,850 | |
MDMaryland | $77,634 | $82,482 | |
MEMaine | $69,664 | $74,474 | |
NHNew Hampshire | $77,210 | $81,917 | |
KSKansas | $73,648 | $69,069 | |
VTVermont | $71,113 | $75,372 | |
MSMississippi | $73,575 | $69,361 | |
MTMontana | $70,304 | $74,406 | |
NYNew York | $73,953 | $77,627 | |
WIWisconsin | $75,547 | $71,891 | |
HIHawaii | $73,574 | $70,130 | |
GAGeorgia | $75,870 | $72,541 | |
TXTexas | $81,790 | $84,977 | |
NCNorth Carolina | $73,489 | $76,356 | |
SCSouth Carolina | $74,948 | $77,786 | |
MIMichigan | $74,493 | $76,985 | |
ILIllinois | $76,585 | $74,198 | |
OHOhio | $77,037 | $74,731 | |
OROregon | $73,755 | $71,821 | |
CTConnecticut | $76,824 | $78,677 | |
DEDelaware | $75,807 | $77,656 | |
CACalifornia | $88,165 | $89,978 | |
NDNorth Dakota | $69,036 | $67,559 | |
PAPennsylvania | $75,821 | $74,394 | |
KYKentucky | $74,126 | $75,403 | |
MOMissouri | $71,314 | $70,093 | |
FLFlorida | $78,392 | $77,203 | |
IAIowa | $73,257 | $74,375 | |
UTUtah | $73,130 | $74,098 | |
SDSouth Dakota | $71,610 | $72,560 | |
TNTennessee | $79,644 | $78,709 | |
VAVirginia | $74,703 | $73,824 | |
AZArizona | $78,209 | $78,786 | |
NJNew Jersey | $79,037 | $79,491 | |
WVWest Virginia | $75,991 | $75,598 | |
ALAlabama | $72,511 | $72,844 | |
INIndiana | $75,794 | $75,720 | |
MNMinnesota | $73,185 | $73,255 |
Single filer, standard deduction, no additional contributions. Wage data: BLS OEWS May 2024.
Compare Other Occupations vs Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist
vs Software Developer
$133,080
Physical Therapist
vs Registered Nurse
$93,600
Physical Therapist
vs Financial Analyst
$101,350
Physical Therapist
vs Elementary School Teacher
$62,340
Physical Therapist
vs Electrician
$62,350
Physical Therapist
vs Accountant
$81,680
Physical Therapist
vs Physician (General Practice)
$238,380
Physical Therapist
vs Police Officer
$76,290
Physical Therapist
vs Plumber
$62,970
Physical Therapist
vs Marketing Manager
$161,030
Physical Therapist
vs Dental Hygienist
$94,260
Physical Therapist
vs Truck Driver (Heavy)
$57,440
Physical Therapist
vs Pharmacist
$137,480
Physical Therapist
vs Lawyer
$151,160
Physical Therapist
vs Civil Engineer
$99,590
Physical Therapist
vs Construction Manager
$106,980
Physical Therapist
vs Graphic Designer
$61,300
Physical Therapist
vs Nurse Practitioner
$129,210
Physical Therapist
vs Product Manager
$130,000
Physical Therapist
vs Real Estate Agent
$56,320
Physical Therapist
vs Firefighter
$59,530
Physical Therapist
vs Software Engineering Manager
$167,740
Physical Therapist
vs Physician Assistant
$133,260
Physical Therapist
vs Data Scientist
$112,590
Physical Therapist
vs Dentist
$172,790
Physical Therapist
vs Electrical Engineer
$111,910
Physical Therapist
vs Psychologist
$95,830
Physical Therapist
vs Veterinarian
$125,510
Physical Therapist
vs Occupational Therapist
$98,340
Physical Therapist
vs Human Resources Manager
$140,030
Physical Therapist
vs Operations Manager
$102,950
Physical Therapist
vs UX Designer
$98,090
Physical Therapist
vs Radiologic Technologist
$77,660
Physical Therapist
vs Social Worker
$68,090
Compare Other Occupations vs Mechanical Engineer
Software Developer
vs Mechanical Engineer
$133,080
Registered Nurse
vs Mechanical Engineer
$93,600
Financial Analyst
vs Mechanical Engineer
$101,350
Elementary School Teacher
vs Mechanical Engineer
$62,340
Electrician
vs Mechanical Engineer
$62,350
Accountant
vs Mechanical Engineer
$81,680
Physician (General Practice)
vs Mechanical Engineer
$238,380
Police Officer
vs Mechanical Engineer
$76,290
Plumber
vs Mechanical Engineer
$62,970
Marketing Manager
vs Mechanical Engineer
$161,030
Dental Hygienist
vs Mechanical Engineer
$94,260
Truck Driver (Heavy)
vs Mechanical Engineer
$57,440
Pharmacist
vs Mechanical Engineer
$137,480
Lawyer
vs Mechanical Engineer
$151,160
Civil Engineer
vs Mechanical Engineer
$99,590
Construction Manager
vs Mechanical Engineer
$106,980
Graphic Designer
vs Mechanical Engineer
$61,300
Nurse Practitioner
vs Mechanical Engineer
$129,210
Product Manager
vs Mechanical Engineer
$130,000
Real Estate Agent
vs Mechanical Engineer
$56,320
Firefighter
vs Mechanical Engineer
$59,530
Software Engineering Manager
vs Mechanical Engineer
$167,740
Physician Assistant
vs Mechanical Engineer
$133,260
Data Scientist
vs Mechanical Engineer
$112,590
Dentist
vs Mechanical Engineer
$172,790
Electrical Engineer
vs Mechanical Engineer
$111,910
Psychologist
vs Mechanical Engineer
$95,830
Veterinarian
vs Mechanical Engineer
$125,510
Occupational Therapist
vs Mechanical Engineer
$98,340
Human Resources Manager
vs Mechanical Engineer
$140,030
Operations Manager
vs Mechanical Engineer
$102,950
UX Designer
vs Mechanical Engineer
$98,090
Radiologic Technologist
vs Mechanical Engineer
$77,660
Social Worker
vs Mechanical Engineer
$68,090