Registered Nurse 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.

Registered Nurse

$81,220

national median wage

$65,968/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Mechanical Engineer earns $17,810 more nationally

Registered Nurse leads in 2 states · Mechanical Engineer leads in 49 states

Mechanical Engineer

$99,030

national median wage

$78,498/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	Mechanical Engineer	Difference
TXTexas	$63,358	$81,628	-$18,270	A·B
VAVirginia	$60,900	$78,387	-$17,487	A·B
ALAlabama	$49,582	$66,206	-$16,624	A·B
LALouisiana	$54,141	$70,732	-$16,591	A·B
INIndiana	$56,435	$73,011	-$16,576	A·B
TNTennessee	$56,640	$73,186	-$16,546	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$51,981	$68,227	-$16,246	A·B
MIMichigan	$59,337	$75,419	-$16,082	A·B
OHOhio	$58,791	$74,823	-$16,031	A·B
IAIowa	$51,908	$67,479	-$15,571	A·B
KSKansas	$52,070	$67,568	-$15,497	A·B
COColorado	$62,707	$77,830	-$15,122	A·B
KYKentucky	$52,140	$66,966	-$14,826	A·B
MOMissouri	$54,286	$69,093	-$14,808	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$54,571	$69,222	-$14,651	A·B
OKOklahoma	$52,205	$66,722	-$14,516	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$56,375	$70,638	-$14,263	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$57,606	$71,586	-$13,980	A·B
UTUtah	$57,848	$71,651	-$13,804	A·B
GAGeorgia	$56,727	$70,345	-$13,619	A·B
NENebraska	$54,164	$67,660	-$13,496	A·B
MDMaryland	$65,585	$79,005	-$13,420	A·B
MSMississippi	$49,292	$62,679	-$13,387	A·B
DEDelaware	$61,247	$74,615	-$13,368	A·B
WYWyoming	$59,876	$73,151	-$13,275	A·B
ILIllinois	$60,747	$74,010	-$13,263	A·B
WIWisconsin	$60,520	$73,289	-$12,769	A·B
FLFlorida	$61,241	$73,890	-$12,649	A·B
ARArkansas	$51,314	$63,733	-$12,419	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$62,412	$74,381	-$11,969	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$74,191	$86,048	-$11,857	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$67,875	$79,518	-$11,643	A·B
WAWashington	$81,530	$93,137	-$11,608	A·B
MNMinnesota	$62,896	$73,827	-$10,931	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$71,328	$81,641	-$10,314	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$53,977	$64,140	-$10,163	A·B
MTMontana	$56,365	$66,168	-$9,803	A·B
CTConnecticut	$69,422	$79,175	-$9,753	A·B
AZArizona	$64,806	$74,536	-$9,730	A·B
VTVermont	$62,878	$71,956	-$9,078	A·B
IDIdaho	$57,069	$66,055	-$8,985	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$73,644	$82,571	-$8,927	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$61,281	$69,476	-$8,194	A·B
HIHawaii	$74,952	$68,742	+$6,210	A·B
NYNew York	$73,488	$79,685	-$6,197	A·B
MEMaine	$59,496	$65,299	-$5,802	A·B
AKAlaska	$77,231	$82,564	-$5,333	A·B
CACalifornia	$88,332	$83,114	+$5,219	A·B
RIRhode Island	$71,717	$76,244	-$4,526	A·B
NVNevada	$73,179	$75,226	-$2,047	A·B
OROregon	$72,789	$74,323	-$1,534	A·B