Software Developer 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.

Software Developer

$133,080

national median wage

$102,226/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Software Developer earns $30,760 more nationally

Software Developer leads in 45 states · Mechanical Engineer leads in 6 states

Mechanical Engineer

$102,320

national median wage

$80,812/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	Mechanical Engineer	Difference
WAWashington	$125,349	$85,772	+$39,577	A·B
NYNew York	$113,013	$77,627	+$35,387	A·B
CACalifornia	$116,279	$89,978	+$26,301	A·B
VAVirginia	$96,258	$73,824	+$22,434	A·B
NENebraska	$86,146	$63,833	+$22,313	A·B
NVNevada	$99,458	$77,850	+$21,608	A·B
GAGeorgia	$93,315	$72,541	+$20,774	A·B
OROregon	$92,395	$71,821	+$20,575	A·B
FLFlorida	$97,763	$77,203	+$20,560	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$101,775	$81,917	+$19,858	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$96,086	$76,356	+$19,731	A·B
VTVermont	$94,446	$75,372	+$19,074	A·B
UTUtah	$92,648	$74,098	+$18,550	A·B
DEDelaware	$95,966	$77,656	+$18,310	A·B
ILIllinois	$92,417	$74,198	+$18,219	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$92,043	$74,394	+$17,649	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$106,840	$89,197	+$17,643	A·B
AZArizona	$96,411	$78,786	+$17,625	A·B
COColorado	$98,013	$80,804	+$17,209	A·B
MDMaryland	$99,233	$82,482	+$16,751	A·B
MNMinnesota	$89,444	$73,255	+$16,189	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$95,517	$79,491	+$16,026	A·B
TXTexas	$100,463	$84,977	+$15,486	A·B
HIHawaii	$85,585	$70,130	+$15,455	A·B
CTConnecticut	$94,113	$78,677	+$15,436	A·B
MOMissouri	$84,969	$70,093	+$14,876	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$89,238	$102,372	-$13,135	A·B
TNTennessee	$91,379	$78,709	+$12,670	A·B
ARArkansas	$73,351	$61,223	+$12,127	A·B
OKOklahoma	$80,112	$68,976	+$11,135	A·B
ALAlabama	$82,954	$72,844	+$10,110	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$77,497	$67,559	+$9,939	A·B
KSKansas	$78,713	$69,069	+$9,644	A·B
RIRhode Island	$94,696	$86,049	+$8,647	A·B
IAIowa	$82,547	$74,375	+$8,172	A·B
LALouisiana	$78,109	$86,029	-$7,920	A·B
MEMaine	$82,247	$74,474	+$7,774	A·B
OHOhio	$82,411	$74,731	+$7,679	A·B
AKAlaska	$92,969	$100,114	-$7,146	A·B
WIWisconsin	$77,446	$71,891	+$5,555	A·B
KYKentucky	$79,942	$75,403	+$4,539	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$95,654	$92,040	+$3,615	A·B
MIMichigan	$80,350	$76,985	+$3,365	A·B
WYWyoming	$88,037	$91,076	-$3,039	A·B
INIndiana	$78,666	$75,720	+$2,945	A·B
MSMississippi	$66,528	$69,361	-$2,833	A·B
IDIdaho	$79,872	$77,114	+$2,758	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$79,929	$77,786	+$2,143	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$70,576	$72,560	-$1,984	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$77,525	$75,598	+$1,927	A·B
MTMontana	$75,014	$74,406	+$608	A·B