Software Developer vs Lawyer Salary After Tax (2026)

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

Software Developer

$133,080

national median wage

$102,226/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Lawyer earns $18,080 more nationally

Software Developer leads in 18 states · Lawyer leads in 33 states

Lawyer

$151,160

national median wage

$114,584/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

Sorted by largest difference. Positive difference = Software Developer earns more after tax.

State	Software Developer	Lawyer	Difference
DCWashington D.C.	$95,654	$129,532	-$33,878	A·B
DEDelaware	$95,425	$118,462	-$23,037	A·B
COColorado	$97,421	$118,652	-$21,231	A·B
ILIllinois	$92,417	$111,152	-$18,735	A·B
VTVermont	$94,446	$75,735	+$18,711	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$106,148	$124,091	-$17,943	A·B
INIndiana	$78,666	$96,394	-$17,728	A·B
CTConnecticut	$93,459	$111,006	-$17,547	A·B
CACalifornia	$114,057	$130,405	-$16,347	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$94,771	$110,820	-$16,049	A·B
NVNevada	$99,458	$114,584	-$15,126	A·B
VAVirginia	$96,258	$110,976	-$14,717	A·B
MIMichigan	$80,350	$92,667	-$12,318	A·B
OHOhio	$82,411	$94,344	-$11,933	A·B
WIWisconsin	$77,446	$88,251	-$10,805	A·B
WAWashington	$123,034	$113,016	+$10,018	A·B
NYNew York	$112,570	$122,531	-$9,961	A·B
ALAlabama	$82,954	$92,404	-$9,450	A·B
TNTennessee	$91,379	$100,511	-$9,132	A·B
AKAlaska	$92,698	$101,702	-$9,005	A·B
WYWyoming	$88,037	$79,300	+$8,737	A·B
MEMaine	$81,678	$73,239	+$8,439	A·B
MNMinnesota	$88,896	$96,814	-$7,918	A·B
NENebraska	$86,146	$78,612	+$7,534	A·B
LALouisiana	$78,109	$85,052	-$6,944	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$101,775	$95,090	+$6,685	A·B
ARArkansas	$73,351	$66,805	+$6,545	A·B
MOMissouri	$84,969	$91,263	-$6,294	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$70,576	$76,753	-$6,177	A·B
OKOklahoma	$80,112	$74,481	+$5,630	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$89,238	$83,792	+$5,445	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$77,497	$81,868	-$4,371	A·B
MSMississippi	$66,528	$70,609	-$4,081	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$96,086	$92,147	+$3,939	A·B
IDIdaho	$79,872	$76,216	+$3,656	A·B
OROregon	$91,449	$95,064	-$3,615	A·B
MDMaryland	$99,233	$102,767	-$3,534	A·B
KSKansas	$78,713	$82,172	-$3,459	A·B
AZArizona	$96,411	$99,486	-$3,075	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$79,929	$77,014	+$2,915	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$91,957	$94,696	-$2,739	A·B
HIHawaii	$85,195	$82,766	+$2,428	A·B
KYKentucky	$79,942	$77,582	+$2,360	A·B
TXTexas	$100,463	$102,561	-$2,098	A·B
GAGeorgia	$93,315	$91,622	+$1,693	A·B
IAIowa	$82,547	$81,229	+$1,318	A·B
UTUtah	$92,648	$91,575	+$1,073	A·B
FLFlorida	$97,763	$98,624	-$861	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$77,525	$76,666	+$858	A·B
MTMontana	$75,014	$75,376	-$362	A·B
RIRhode Island	$93,596	$93,761	-$165	A·B