Elementary School Teacher vs Firefighter Salary After Tax (2026)

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

Elementary School Teacher

$62,340

national median wage

$52,270/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Elementary School Teacher earns $2,810 more nationally

Elementary School Teacher leads in 40 states · Firefighter leads in 11 states

Firefighter

$59,530

national median wage

$50,012/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Take-Home Pay by State — All 50 States

Sorted by largest difference. Positive difference = Elementary School Teacher earns more after tax.

State	Elementary School Teacher	Firefighter	Difference
NMNew Mexico	$52,904	$35,788	+$17,116	A·B
KYKentucky	$46,855	$30,840	+$16,016	A·B
MNMinnesota	$50,128	$34,491	+$15,637	A·B
LALouisiana	$43,005	$28,633	+$14,372	A·B
DEDelaware	$52,381	$38,702	+$13,679	A·B
GAGeorgia	$50,522	$37,354	+$13,168	A·B
VTVermont	$49,792	$38,134	+$11,658	A·B
RIRhode Island	$67,322	$55,721	+$11,602	A·B
MEMaine	$49,214	$38,314	+$10,900	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$44,959	$34,293	+$10,665	A·B
COColorado	$49,636	$60,030	-$10,394	A·B
ILIllinois	$50,701	$60,693	-$9,992	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$47,479	$37,508	+$9,970	A·B
WIWisconsin	$49,055	$39,197	+$9,858	A·B
AKAlaska	$62,500	$52,977	+$9,523	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$70,389	$60,926	+$9,463	A·B
UTUtah	$49,031	$39,595	+$9,436	A·B
ALAlabama	$47,542	$38,229	+$9,313	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$40,411	$31,133	+$9,278	A·B
CACalifornia	$72,866	$63,837	+$9,029	A·B
MSMississippi	$39,496	$30,746	+$8,750	A·B
WYWyoming	$51,643	$43,841	+$7,802	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$60,381	$67,105	-$6,724	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$63,460	$56,827	+$6,633	A·B
ARArkansas	$41,009	$34,549	+$6,460	A·B
AZArizona	$42,270	$48,242	-$5,971	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$53,950	$48,004	+$5,946	A·B
MTMontana	$45,452	$51,364	-$5,912	A·B
MIMichigan	$49,879	$44,720	+$5,160	A·B
KSKansas	$40,978	$35,923	+$5,054	A·B
OHOhio	$53,697	$49,111	+$4,586	A·B
TNTennessee	$44,516	$40,186	+$4,331	A·B
IDIdaho	$47,778	$43,455	+$4,323	A·B
WAWashington	$78,554	$74,600	+$3,954	A·B
NYNew York	$62,998	$66,830	-$3,832	A·B
NVNevada	$52,334	$56,049	-$3,714	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$48,638	$45,296	+$3,343	A·B
VAVirginia	$49,448	$46,486	+$2,962	A·B
MDMaryland	$58,210	$55,494	+$2,716	A·B
INIndiana	$47,388	$49,787	-$2,399	A·B
FLFlorida	$46,814	$49,072	-$2,258	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$58,725	$56,888	+$1,837	A·B
OROregon	$56,119	$54,560	+$1,558	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$41,640	$40,362	+$1,278	A·B
CTConnecticut	$60,643	$59,943	+$700	A·B
HIHawaii	$47,666	$47,018	+$647	A·B
TXTexas	$51,499	$51,065	+$434	A·B
IAIowa	$45,308	$45,040	+$268	A·B
MOMissouri	$39,618	$39,785	-$166	A·B
OKOklahoma	$38,731	$38,580	+$152	A·B
NENebraska	$49,660	$49,706	-$45	A·B