Tennessee Salary & Paycheck Calculator
Calculate your take-home pay in the Volunteer State
How Your Tennessee Paycheck is Calculated
Tennessee is famous for being one of the few states in the U.S. that does not impose a state income tax on wages. This means that if you live and work in cities like Nashville, Memphis, or Knoxville, you get to keep a significantly larger portion of your earnings compared to neighboring states like Kentucky or North Carolina.
However, your paycheck is still subject to federal obligations. Every paycheck in Tennessee is reduced by three primary factors:
- Federal Income Tax: Calculated based on your IRS filing status and progressive tax brackets.
- Social Security: A mandatory 6.2% deduction (up to the annual wage base limit).
- Medicare: A mandatory 1.45% deduction for hospital insurance.
The "No State Tax" Advantage
Because Tennessee has no state income tax, the math for your take-home pay is simpler than in most other states. The "Hall Income Tax," which used to tax interest and dividends, was fully repealed on January 1, 2021. Today, Tennessee relies primarily on sales tax rather than taxing your hard-earned salary.
Example Calculation
Let's look at a realistic scenario for a TN resident:
- Annual Salary: $60,000
- Filing Status: Single
- Pay Period: Bi-weekly (26 checks per year)
In this case, the gross bi-weekly pay is roughly $2,307.69. After deducting approximately $235 for Federal Income Tax, $143 for Social Security, and $33 for Medicare, the estimated take-home pay would be roughly $1,896 per paycheck, assuming no other deductions like health insurance or 401(k) contributions.
Pre-Tax vs. Post-Tax Deductions
When using our Tennessee paycheck calculator, remember that "Pre-tax Deductions" include items like 401(k) retirement contributions and health insurance premiums. These reduce your taxable income, which in turn lowers the amount of federal income tax you owe. Post-tax deductions, like certain life insurance plans or Roth 401(k)s, do not reduce your tax burden upfront.