Police Officer vs Elementary School Teacher Salary After Tax (2026)

Side-by-side take-home pay comparison across all 50 states. Single filer, standard deduction, 2026 tax rates.

Police Officer

$69,160

national median wage

$57,484/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Police Officer earns $7,470 more nationally

Police Officer leads in 32 states · Elementary School Teacher leads in 19 states

Elementary School Teacher

$61,690

national median wage

$51,748/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

Sorted by largest difference. Positive difference = Police Officer earns more after tax.

State	Police Officer	Elementary School Teacher	Difference
HIHawaii	$64,767	$49,130	+$15,637	A·B
CACalifornia	$77,107	$63,810	+$13,297	A·B
COColorado	$56,857	$45,894	+$10,964	A·B
AKAlaska	$67,614	$57,175	+$10,440	A·B
UTUtah	$49,942	$39,730	+$10,212	A·B
WAWashington	$66,285	$56,956	+$9,328	A·B
AZArizona	$51,101	$43,254	+$7,847	A·B
NVNevada	$59,222	$51,402	+$7,819	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$44,637	$37,060	+$7,577	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$50,049	$42,829	+$7,219	A·B
MNMinnesota	$56,611	$49,514	+$7,097	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$66,849	$60,150	+$6,699	A·B
MOMissouri	$47,277	$40,591	+$6,686	A·B
FLFlorida	$52,648	$46,051	+$6,597	A·B
MTMontana	$45,222	$38,820	+$6,403	A·B
ALAlabama	$36,486	$42,755	-$6,269	A·B
MDMaryland	$60,881	$54,761	+$6,120	A·B
NENebraska	$48,278	$42,362	+$5,916	A·B
OROregon	$56,361	$50,921	+$5,439	A·B
IDIdaho	$44,648	$39,280	+$5,368	A·B
KSKansas	$46,180	$40,887	+$5,293	A·B
WYWyoming	$54,183	$49,169	+$5,014	A·B
ARArkansas	$36,305	$41,109	-$4,804	A·B
ILIllinois	$58,406	$53,625	+$4,781	A·B
GAGeorgia	$43,723	$48,192	-$4,469	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$54,632	$50,551	+$4,082	A·B
LALouisiana	$40,469	$43,459	-$2,989	A·B
MSMississippi	$33,299	$36,151	-$2,852	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$61,908	$59,056	+$2,851	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$37,807	$40,659	-$2,851	A·B
WIWisconsin	$50,903	$48,193	+$2,709	A·B
OKOklahoma	$39,709	$37,010	+$2,699	A·B
TXTexas	$53,267	$50,703	+$2,563	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$40,619	$43,141	-$2,522	A·B
KYKentucky	$43,093	$45,345	-$2,252	A·B
INIndiana	$46,372	$44,223	+$2,149	A·B
VTVermont	$47,072	$49,189	-$2,117	A·B
MIMichigan	$51,746	$53,705	-$1,959	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$62,646	$64,495	-$1,849	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$44,001	$42,514	+$1,487	A·B
MEMaine	$45,969	$44,519	+$1,450	A·B
DEDelaware	$51,975	$53,265	-$1,290	A·B
IAIowa	$45,817	$44,577	+$1,239	A·B
RIRhode Island	$59,032	$60,251	-$1,219	A·B
CTConnecticut	$59,480	$60,615	-$1,135	A·B
NYNew York	$61,801	$62,644	-$843	A·B
TNTennessee	$43,705	$44,235	-$530	A·B
VAVirginia	$50,784	$51,098	-$313	A·B
OHOhio	$51,442	$51,737	-$295	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$44,687	$44,906	-$219	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$55,617	$55,408	+$209	A·B