Plumber 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.

Plumber

$62,970

national median wage

$52,776/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $39,350 more nationally

Plumber leads in 0 states · Mechanical Engineer leads in 51 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 = Plumber earns more after tax.

State	Plumber	Mechanical Engineer	Difference
NMNew Mexico	$48,478	$102,372	-$53,894	A·B
WYWyoming	$51,579	$91,076	-$39,497	A·B
TXTexas	$49,233	$84,977	-$35,744	A·B
CACalifornia	$54,543	$89,978	-$35,436	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$40,465	$75,598	-$35,134	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$41,625	$76,356	-$34,731	A·B
FLFlorida	$42,789	$77,203	-$34,414	A·B
RIRhode Island	$52,303	$86,049	-$33,746	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$44,111	$77,786	-$33,676	A·B
LALouisiana	$52,627	$86,029	-$33,402	A·B
AKAlaska	$67,284	$100,114	-$32,830	A·B
MDMaryland	$50,376	$82,482	-$32,106	A·B
IDIdaho	$46,097	$77,114	-$31,017	A·B
TNTennessee	$48,566	$78,709	-$30,143	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$52,021	$81,917	-$29,896	A·B
ALAlabama	$43,013	$72,844	-$29,830	A·B
COColorado	$51,200	$80,804	-$29,604	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$42,990	$72,560	-$29,570	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$62,485	$92,040	-$29,555	A·B
AZArizona	$50,803	$78,786	-$27,983	A·B
GAGeorgia	$45,110	$72,541	-$27,430	A·B
NVNevada	$50,486	$77,850	-$27,364	A·B
DEDelaware	$50,840	$77,656	-$26,816	A·B
VAVirginia	$47,426	$73,824	-$26,398	A·B
VTVermont	$49,237	$75,372	-$26,134	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$63,460	$89,197	-$25,737	A·B
MEMaine	$48,913	$74,474	-$25,561	A·B
KYKentucky	$50,229	$75,403	-$25,174	A·B
UTUtah	$49,008	$74,098	-$25,090	A·B
IAIowa	$49,663	$74,375	-$24,711	A·B
OKOklahoma	$44,322	$68,976	-$24,655	A·B
INIndiana	$52,179	$75,720	-$23,541	A·B
OHOhio	$51,486	$74,731	-$23,246	A·B
MSMississippi	$46,764	$69,361	-$22,597	A·B
CTConnecticut	$56,972	$78,677	-$21,705	A·B
WAWashington	$64,456	$85,772	-$21,316	A·B
ARArkansas	$40,359	$61,223	-$20,864	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$53,672	$74,394	-$20,722	A·B
MOMissouri	$50,088	$70,093	-$20,005	A·B
KSKansas	$49,950	$69,069	-$19,119	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$60,387	$79,491	-$19,104	A·B
NYNew York	$60,387	$77,627	-$17,240	A·B
MIMichigan	$59,998	$76,985	-$16,988	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$52,535	$67,559	-$15,024	A·B
MTMontana	$60,612	$74,406	-$13,794	A·B
NENebraska	$50,555	$63,833	-$13,279	A·B
WIWisconsin	$61,281	$71,891	-$10,610	A·B
HIHawaii	$59,644	$70,130	-$10,486	A·B
MNMinnesota	$63,278	$73,255	-$9,977	A·B
OROregon	$66,782	$71,821	-$5,039	A·B
ILIllinois	$71,890	$74,198	-$2,309	A·B