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

$61,690

national median wage

$51,748/yr

take-home in TX (no state tax)

Elementary School Teacher earns $4,910 more nationally

Elementary School Teacher leads in 38 states · Firefighter leads in 13 states

Firefighter

$56,780

national median wage

$47,803/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
GAGeorgia	$48,192	$36,096	+$12,096	A·B
ALAlabama	$42,755	$32,131	+$10,624	A·B
ARArkansas	$41,109	$30,745	+$10,364	A·B
SCSouth Carolina	$43,141	$33,261	+$9,880	A·B
VTVermont	$49,189	$39,868	+$9,321	A·B
KYKentucky	$45,345	$36,229	+$9,116	A·B
LALouisiana	$43,459	$34,383	+$9,076	A·B
DEDelaware	$53,265	$44,215	+$9,051	A·B
VAVirginia	$51,098	$42,064	+$9,034	A·B
TNTennessee	$44,235	$35,469	+$8,766	A·B
MIMichigan	$53,705	$45,361	+$8,344	A·B
RIRhode Island	$60,251	$52,105	+$8,146	A·B
PAPennsylvania	$55,408	$47,335	+$8,073	A·B
MSMississippi	$36,151	$28,616	+$7,535	A·B
WVWest Virginia	$40,659	$33,406	+$7,253	A·B
HIHawaii	$49,130	$56,073	-$6,943	A·B
NCNorth Carolina	$42,514	$35,695	+$6,819	A·B
OHOhio	$51,737	$45,972	+$5,765	A·B
MAMassachusetts	$64,495	$58,777	+$5,718	A·B
TXTexas	$50,703	$45,111	+$5,592	A·B
NYNew York	$62,644	$57,054	+$5,590	A·B
CACalifornia	$63,810	$69,103	-$5,293	A·B
MEMaine	$44,519	$39,360	+$5,159	A·B
COColorado	$45,894	$50,997	-$5,104	A·B
NMNew Mexico	$44,906	$39,911	+$4,995	A·B
IAIowa	$44,577	$39,912	+$4,666	A·B
CTConnecticut	$60,615	$56,251	+$4,364	A·B
WAWashington	$56,956	$61,192	-$4,235	A·B
WIWisconsin	$48,193	$44,111	+$4,083	A·B
OKOklahoma	$37,010	$33,283	+$3,727	A·B
AZArizona	$43,254	$46,889	-$3,636	A·B
INIndiana	$44,223	$41,193	+$3,030	A·B
UTUtah	$39,730	$42,750	-$3,020	A·B
NHNew Hampshire	$50,551	$48,325	+$2,226	A·B
MDMaryland	$54,761	$52,727	+$2,034	A·B
AKAlaska	$57,175	$59,081	-$1,906	A·B
FLFlorida	$46,051	$44,308	+$1,744	A·B
NVNevada	$51,402	$53,146	-$1,744	A·B
WYWyoming	$49,169	$47,522	+$1,647	A·B
IDIdaho	$39,280	$37,640	+$1,640	A·B
MTMontana	$38,820	$40,450	-$1,630	A·B
NENebraska	$42,362	$40,894	+$1,468	A·B
MNMinnesota	$49,514	$48,403	+$1,111	A·B
KSKansas	$40,887	$39,865	+$1,023	A·B
SDSouth Dakota	$37,060	$36,273	+$787	A·B
ILIllinois	$53,625	$54,357	-$732	A·B
OROregon	$50,921	$50,261	+$660	A·B
MOMissouri	$40,591	$41,233	-$642	A·B
DCWashington D.C.	$59,056	$59,421	-$365	A·B
NJNew Jersey	$60,150	$59,856	+$294	A·B
NDNorth Dakota	$42,829	$43,099	-$269	A·B