Registered Nurse vs Lawyer Salary After Tax (2026)

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

Registered Nurse

$81,220

national median wage

$65,968/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Lawyer earns $64,540 more nationally

Registered Nurse leads in 0 states · Lawyer leads in 51 states

Lawyer

$145,760

national median wage

$110,893/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

Sorted by largest difference. Positive difference = Registered Nurse earns more after tax.

State	Registered Nurse	Lawyer	Difference
DCWashington D.C.	$74,191	$146,590	-$72,400	A·B
NYNew York	$73,488	$136,214	-$62,725	A·B
VAVirginia	$60,900	$104,954	-$44,054	A·B
MDMaryland	$65,585	$108,366	-$42,781	A·B
TXTexas	$63,358	$105,883	-$42,525	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$73,644	$116,066	-$42,422	A·B
ILIllinois	$60,747	$101,053	-$40,306	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$71,328	$109,108	-$37,780	A·B
DEDelaware	$61,247	$98,602	-$37,356	A·B
FLFlorida	$61,241	$97,681	-$36,440	A·B
COColorado	$62,707	$97,237	-$34,530	A·B
CACalifornia	$88,332	$122,245	-$33,912	A·B
MOMissouri	$54,286	$86,103	-$31,818	A·B
CTConnecticut	$69,422	$101,021	-$31,599	A·B
GAGeorgia	$56,727	$88,237	-$31,511	A·B
TNTennessee	$56,640	$87,221	-$30,581	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$62,412	$92,494	-$30,082	A·B
OHOhio	$58,791	$88,134	-$29,343	A·B
MNMinnesota	$62,896	$92,040	-$29,144	A·B
AZArizona	$64,806	$93,203	-$28,397	A·B
MIMichigan	$59,337	$87,350	-$28,013	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$57,606	$85,414	-$27,808	A·B
WAWashington	$81,530	$109,300	-$27,771	A·B
ALAlabama	$49,582	$77,315	-$27,733	A·B
KYKentucky	$52,140	$78,909	-$26,769	A·B
KSKansas	$52,070	$78,422	-$26,352	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$51,981	$78,076	-$26,095	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$67,875	$93,553	-$25,678	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$54,571	$80,093	-$25,522	A·B
INIndiana	$56,435	$81,834	-$25,399	A·B
IAIowa	$51,908	$77,176	-$25,268	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$56,375	$81,567	-$25,193	A·B
NENebraska	$54,164	$79,272	-$25,107	A·B
LALouisiana	$54,141	$78,631	-$24,490	A·B
UTUtah	$57,848	$82,163	-$24,316	A·B
RIRhode Island	$71,717	$95,718	-$24,001	A·B
OKOklahoma	$52,205	$75,906	-$23,700	A·B
WIWisconsin	$60,520	$83,697	-$23,177	A·B
ARArkansas	$51,314	$74,355	-$23,041	A·B
NVNevada	$73,179	$95,630	-$22,451	A·B
MSMississippi	$49,292	$70,557	-$21,265	A·B
WYWyoming	$59,876	$80,186	-$20,310	A·B
IDIdaho	$57,069	$76,441	-$19,371	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$53,977	$72,620	-$18,643	A·B
MTMontana	$56,365	$74,282	-$17,917	A·B
VTVermont	$62,878	$80,212	-$17,334	A·B
MEMaine	$59,496	$76,675	-$17,178	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$61,281	$78,370	-$17,089	A·B
AKAlaska	$77,231	$93,553	-$16,321	A·B
OROregon	$72,789	$84,752	-$11,962	A·B
HIHawaii	$74,952	$81,534	-$6,583	A·B