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

$130,160

national median wage

$100,230/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Lawyer earns $15,600 more nationally

Software Developer leads in 8 states · Lawyer leads in 43 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 = Software Developer earns more after tax.

State	Software Developer	Lawyer	Difference
DCWashington D.C.	$102,760	$146,590	-$43,830	A·B
NYNew York	$100,770	$136,214	-$35,443	A·B
CACalifornia	$107,896	$122,245	-$14,349	A·B
MDMaryland	$94,616	$108,366	-$13,750	A·B
ILIllinois	$88,365	$101,053	-$12,687	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$97,840	$109,108	-$11,268	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$105,081	$116,066	-$10,985	A·B
FLFlorida	$87,045	$97,681	-$10,636	A·B
VAVirginia	$94,343	$104,954	-$10,611	A·B
DEDelaware	$88,339	$98,602	-$10,263	A·B
CTConnecticut	$90,977	$101,021	-$10,045	A·B
RIRhode Island	$86,248	$95,718	-$9,471	A·B
TXTexas	$96,697	$105,883	-$9,186	A·B
LALouisiana	$69,635	$78,631	-$8,996	A·B
NVNevada	$86,672	$95,630	-$8,958	A·B
WAWashington	$117,625	$109,300	+$8,325	A·B
OROregon	$91,481	$84,752	+$6,729	A·B
ARArkansas	$67,678	$74,355	-$6,677	A·B
MSMississippi	$64,235	$70,557	-$6,322	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$66,619	$72,620	-$6,001	A·B
ALAlabama	$71,355	$77,315	-$5,960	A·B
MOMissouri	$80,145	$86,103	-$5,958	A·B
UTUtah	$88,004	$82,163	+$5,841	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$76,164	$81,567	-$5,403	A·B
TNTennessee	$81,818	$87,221	-$5,403	A·B
AKAlaska	$88,220	$93,553	-$5,333	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$73,524	$78,076	-$4,552	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$75,758	$80,093	-$4,336	A·B
OHOhio	$84,172	$88,134	-$3,962	A·B
WYWyoming	$76,373	$80,186	-$3,813	A·B
MIMichigan	$83,543	$87,350	-$3,807	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$88,765	$92,494	-$3,729	A·B
MNMinnesota	$88,626	$92,040	-$3,413	A·B
KYKentucky	$75,685	$78,909	-$3,225	A·B
OKOklahoma	$72,823	$75,906	-$3,083	A·B
IDIdaho	$79,120	$76,441	+$2,679	A·B
COColorado	$99,872	$97,237	+$2,635	A·B
GAGeorgia	$85,747	$88,237	-$2,490	A·B
INIndiana	$79,788	$81,834	-$2,046	A·B
IAIowa	$75,379	$77,176	-$1,797	A·B
AZArizona	$91,471	$93,203	-$1,732	A·B
HIHawaii	$79,876	$81,534	-$1,658	A·B
KSKansas	$76,832	$78,422	-$1,590	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$86,804	$85,414	+$1,389	A·B
WIWisconsin	$82,565	$83,697	-$1,132	A·B
MTMontana	$75,023	$74,282	+$741	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$77,657	$78,370	-$713	A·B
NENebraska	$78,801	$79,272	-$471	A·B
MEMaine	$76,314	$76,675	-$360	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$93,834	$93,553	+$281	A·B
VTVermont	$80,129	$80,212	-$83	A·B