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Tennessee Hourly Paycheck Calculator

An hourly wage in Tennessee is reduced by federal income tax, FICA of 7.65% (6.2% Social Security up to the annual wage base plus 1.45% Medicare), and no state income tax in 2026. Enter your wage and hours to see net pay for any pay frequency. Against the 8 states Tennessee borders, the same $25 an hour is worth $43,962 here: Missouri leaves $1,507 less ($42,455), North Carolina leaves $1,566 less ($42,396), Kentucky leaves $1,702 less ($42,260), Arkansas leaves $1,844 less ($42,118), Mississippi leaves $1,988 less ($41,974), Georgia leaves $2,076 less ($41,886), Virginia leaves $2,229 less ($41,733) and Alabama leaves $2,410 less ($41,552). Tennessee beats every state it borders on this, so the commute only pays in the other direction.

Estimated take-home

$1,691

every two weeks · $43,962 a year

For $25/hr, 40 hrs a week · Tennessee · single

Take-home 85%Taxes & deductions 15%

Pay stub

ItemPer paycheckPer year
Gross pay$2,000.00$52,000
Federal income tax− $156.15− $4,060
Social Security (FICA)− $124.00− $3,224
Medicare (FICA)− $29.00− $754
Tennessee income tax$0.00$0
Take-home pay$1,690.85$43,962

FICA is Social Security plus Medicare.

Estimate based on 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules updated Oct 2026 How we calculate

Your details

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You keep

85¢of every dollar

On average you keep 85¢ of each dollar. Of your next $1,000, you’d keep about $804: the dashed line.

Insights

  • Next $1,000

    Every extra $1,000 you earn adds about $804 to your take-home. The other $196 goes to tax.

  • Overtime

    One more overtime hour a week ($37.50) would add about $60 to each paycheck after withholding.

  • 401(k)

    Putting 5% into a 401(k) would save $2,600 a year but lower your take-home by only $2,288.

Effective tax rate 15.5%

What common hourly wages leave in Tennessee

Worked full time at 40 hours a week in Tennessee, here is what common wages leave after federal tax, no state income tax and FICA in 2026:

WageGrossTennessee taxYou keepShare kept
$18/hour$37,440None$32,26386.2%
$25/hour$52,000None$43,96284.5%
$35/hour$72,800None$60,04582.5%

Tennessee levies no income tax on wages, so this money is exposed only to the 8% federal marginal rate and 7.65% FICA: there is no state layer on top.

How Tennessee ranks on hourly wages

Across all 50 states and DC, Tennessee ranks 1st for what $25 an hour leaves in 2026, tied with 8 other states that levy no income tax on wages. That is $1,702 more than the median state ($42,260), and $4,288 more than Oregon, where the same $25 an hour leaves $39,674.

Tennessee hourly wages against the states next door

Crossing a state line changes what the same hourly wage is worth without changing what you are paid. Here is $25 an hour in Tennessee against the states it borders:

StateState income taxYou keepvs Tennessee
TennesseeNone$43,962—
Alabama$2,410$41,552$2,410 less
Arkansas$1,844$42,118$1,844 less
Georgia$2,076$41,886$2,076 less
Kentucky$1,702$42,260$1,702 less
Mississippi$1,988$41,974$1,988 less
Missouri$1,507$42,455$1,507 less
North Carolina$1,566$42,396$1,566 less
Virginia$2,229$41,733$2,229 less

How hourly take-home pay is calculated in Tennessee

Your hourly wage is just the starting point. Tennessee workers pay federal taxes on their annualized income, plus mandatory FICA contributions, but no state income tax. Tennessee is not alone: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming leave exactly the same $43,962. Here's exactly how it works.

  • Annualized income determines your bracket: Your employer annualizes your hourly income (hourly rate × hours × 52 weeks) to determine the correct withholding for each paycheck.
  • No Tennessee state income tax: Tennessee doesn't tax wage income, so your paycheck only shows federal withholding and FICA: one of the reasons take-home pay stretches further here.
  • Social Security and Medicare: FICA taxes are 6.2% for Social Security (up to the annual wage base) and 1.45% for Medicare. These are fixed percentages with no deductions or exemptions.
  • Pre-tax deductions reduce your taxable income: Contributions to a 401(k), HSA, or FSA are deducted before taxes are calculated, lowering both your taxable income and your tax bill.

The calculator combines all these factors to show your exact take-home pay per paycheck, per month, and annually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Federal income tax on your annualized income, plus FICA (6.2% Social Security up to the wage base and 1.45% Medicare), and nothing else, because Tennessee has no state income tax. $25 an hour full time is $52,000 gross and $43,962 take-home here, $1,702 more than the median state leaves on the same wage.

Multiply your hourly rate by your weekly hours, then by 52: $25/hour × 40 hours × 52 weeks is $52,000 a year. That annualized figure sets your federal bracket. In Tennessee it works out to $32,263 on $18 an hour, $43,962 on $25 an hour, $60,045 on $35 an hour: take-home, not gross.

Federal income tax on your annualized income, Social Security (6.2% up to the $176,100 wage base) and Medicare (1.45%, plus 0.9% above $200,000 single or $250,000 married). There is no Tennessee state line on the stub at all, which is why $25 an hour keeps 84.5% of gross here against 81.3% in the median state.

Tennessee's minimum wage is set by state law and may be higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Some cities within Tennessee have their own higher local minimums. Check your employer's offer against the current Tennessee Department of Labor rates to verify compliance.

Your total annual tax is the same however often you're paid; only the per-paycheck withholding changes. On $25 an hour in Tennessee that is about $1,691 every two weeks, $1,832 semi-monthly or $3,664 a month after tax. The calculator adjusts withholding for weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly and monthly periods.

Against the 8 states Tennessee borders, the same $25 an hour is worth $43,962 here: Missouri leaves $1,507 less ($42,455), North Carolina leaves $1,566 less ($42,396), Kentucky leaves $1,702 less ($42,260), Arkansas leaves $1,844 less ($42,118), Mississippi leaves $1,988 less ($41,974), Georgia leaves $2,076 less ($41,886), Virginia leaves $2,229 less ($41,733) and Alabama leaves $2,410 less ($41,552). Tennessee beats every state it borders on this, so the commute only pays in the other direction. Tennessee is not alone: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming leave exactly the same $43,962.

Unfortunately, Tennessee taxes groceries at the full 7% state rate plus local taxes (up to 9.75% total). Unlike states with grocery exemptions, there's no way around this. However, you can minimize your sales tax burden by purchasing items that are exempt (like prescription medications) and by shopping in counties with lower local rates. Budget accordingly: a $200 weekly grocery bill includes $14-$19 in sales tax.

Your tax obligations follow where you physically work, not where your employer is located. If you relocate to another state while working remotely for a Tennessee company, you'll pay taxes to your new state of residence, not Tennessee. However, some states have 'sourcing' rules that could complicate this, especially if you maintain a residence in Tennessee. Update your W-4 and notify your employer's payroll department immediately upon relocation.

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