How to use the Tennessee paycheck calculator
- Enter your pay. Choose Salary or Hourly, type the amount, and pick how often you are paid.
- Copy your Form W-4. Select your filing status and fill in Steps 2, 3 and 4 the way they are on the form your employer has. Tennessee has no state withholding form to add.
- Add your deductions. Type the 401(k) contribution and health premium for one paycheck. The result shows each federal tax and a Tennessee income tax line of $0.00.
What is the Tennessee paycheck calculator?
The Tennessee paycheck calculator is a tool that turns gross pay into take-home pay for someone who works in Tennessee. Tennessee does not tax wages. Article II, Section 28 of the Tennessee Constitution bars any state or local tax upon payroll or earned personal income, and the state's old tax on interest and dividends ended in 2021.
That leaves three federal taxes on a Tennessee paycheck: federal income tax, Social Security tax and Medicare tax. The calculator works them out with the 2026 method in IRS Publication 15-T and shows each one on its own line. To compare Tennessee with states that do tax wages, see income tax by state.
Features
- A Tennessee income tax line of $0.00, with the source of that rule named on this page
- Salary and hourly pay, with overtime hours at a multiplier you set
- Weekly, biweekly, twice-a-month and monthly pay periods
- Every step of the 2020-and-later Form W-4
- Federal income tax from the 2026 IRS percentage method tables
- Social Security up to the $184,500 wage base, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax
- 401(k) and health premium deductions taken before tax
- The withholding worksheet shown step by step
- A PDF report of your inputs and every result line, to save or share on WhatsApp
Tennessee paycheck taxes in 2026
| Tax or deduction | Rate | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Federal income tax | 0% to 37% of the adjusted annual wage, by Form W-4 | Internal Revenue Service |
| Social Security | 6.2% of wages up to $184,500 | Social Security Administration and IRS |
| Medicare | 1.45% of all wages | Internal Revenue Service |
| Additional Medicare Tax | 0.9% of wages above $200,000 in the year | Internal Revenue Service |
| Tennessee income tax on wages | None | Tennessee Constitution, Article II, Section 28 |
| City or county income tax | None | Tennessee Constitution, Article II, Section 28 |
| State unemployment tax taken from employee pay | None: the employer pays it | Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development |
Tennessee takes no state deduction from employee pay. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development describes unemployment insurance as a benefit program funded by Tennessee employers.
Tennessee take-home pay by salary
The table shows 2026 take-home pay in Tennessee for a single filer paid every two weeks, with no other entries on Form W-4 and no pre-tax deductions.
| Salary | Federal income tax | Social Security and Medicare | Tennessee income tax | Take-home pay per year | Per paycheck (every two weeks) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 | $1,420 | $2,295 | $0 | $26,285 | $1,010.96 |
| $50,000 | $3,820 | $3,825 | $0 | $42,355 | $1,629.05 |
| $71,997 | $7,009 | $5,508 | $0 | $59,480 | $2,287.69 |
| $75,000 | $7,670 | $5,738 | $0 | $61,593 | $2,368.94 |
| $100,000 | $13,170 | $7,650 | $0 | $79,180 | $3,045.38 |
| $150,000 | $24,734 | $11,475 | $0 | $113,791 | $4,376.58 |
The $71,997 row is Tennessee's median household income in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey. A single filer paid that amount as a salary takes home $59,480 a year, or $2,287.69 every two weeks.
Tennessee take-home pay by hourly wage
The table shows a 40-hour week for a single filer paid weekly. The first row is $7.25, the federal minimum wage, which applies because Tennessee has no minimum wage law of its own.
| Hourly wage | Gross pay per week (40 hours) | Federal taxes per week | Take-home pay per week | Take-home pay per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $7.25 | $290.00 | $22.19 | $267.81 | $13,926 |
| $12.00 | $480.00 | $53.76 | $426.24 | $22,165 |
| $15.00 | $600.00 | $75.98 | $524.02 | $27,249 |
| $20.00 | $800.00 | $115.28 | $684.72 | $35,606 |
| $25.00 | $1,000.00 | $154.58 | $845.42 | $43,962 |
| $30.00 | $1,200.00 | $193.88 | $1,006.12 | $52,318 |
At $7.25 an hour, a 40-hour week pays $290.00 before tax and $267.81 after federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
Why Tennessee has no tax on wages
Tennessee voters ratified an amendment to Article II, Section 28 of the state constitution in November 2014. It says the legislature shall not levy, authorize or otherwise permit any state or local tax upon payroll or earned personal income. The ban covers cities and counties as well as the state.
Tennessee used to tax one kind of personal income. The Hall income tax applied to interest from bonds and notes and to dividends from stock. The Tennessee Department of Revenue says it was repealed for tax periods that begin on 1 January 2021 or later, and that no return is filed for those years.
The Hall tax never applied to wages, so its repeal did not change paychecks. It does mean that a Tennessee resident now pays no state tax on wages, interest or dividends.
Tennessee pay rules that shape your paycheck
These Tennessee rules decide how much is on a paycheck and when it arrives.
| Rule | What Tennessee law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum wage | $7.25 an hour, the federal rate. Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, and local governments may not require a higher one. | Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development; Tennessee Code Section 50-2-112 |
| Tipped employees | Cash wage of $2.13 an hour, with a tip credit of up to $5.12 | U.S. Department of Labor |
| Overtime | One and one-half times the regular rate for hours over 40 in a workweek. Tennessee has no state overtime law. | Fair Labor Standards Act; Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development |
| Paydays | At least once a month for private employers with five or more employees | Tennessee Code Section 50-2-103 |
| Final paycheck | By the next regular payday or 21 days after the employee leaves, whichever is later | Tennessee Code Section 50-2-103(g) |
| Meal or rest break | 30 minutes, unpaid, for an employee scheduled 6 consecutive hours | Tennessee Code Section 50-2-103(h) |
| Paid sick leave | Not regulated by state law; company policy decides | Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development |
Tennessee's payday law also sets dates. An employer that pays once a month must pay each month's wages by the 5th of the following month. An employer that pays twice a month or more must pay wages earned before the 1st by the 20th of that month, and wages earned before the 16th by the 5th of the next month. Paydays must be regular and posted in at least two places.
The final-pay rule is the same whether the employee quits or is dismissed. The 30-minute break is unpaid, so it does not add to the hours on a paycheck. It does not apply in workplaces that by their nature give ample opportunity to rest.
From 1 July 2026, Public Chapter 617 lets wages earned by piecework or commission be paid by the last day of the month after they are earned, during employment and at separation.
Who pays unemployment tax in Tennessee?
Employers pay Tennessee unemployment tax; employees pay nothing. For 2026 the tax applies to the first $7,000 of each employee's wages. The standard rate for a new employer is 2.7%, and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development sets new-employer rates by industry.
What changed for Tennessee paychecks in 2026
- Public Chapter 617 took effect on 1 July 2026. It changed the payday and final-pay deadlines for employees paid by piecework or commission.
- The minimum wage stays at the federal $7.25, and the overtime and meal break rules are the same as in 2025.
- The unemployment tax wage base stays at $7,000, paid by employers.
- Federal figures changed: the Social Security wage base is $184,500 and the IRS published new withholding tables for 2026.
What the calculator includes
- Tax year: 2026. Tennessee figures were verified against the state's own sources on 9 October 2026.
- Taxes: federal income tax withholding, Social Security, Medicare and Additional Medicare Tax, plus the Tennessee income tax line, which is $0.00.
- Form W-4: the 2020-and-later form, which has no allowances.
- Pay: gross pay up to $10,000,000, hourly rates up to $10,000, up to 744 hours in a pay period, and an overtime multiplier from 1 to 5.
- Tennessee rules: no state or local tax on payroll or earned income, and no state deduction from employee pay.
Is it private?
Yes. The calculation runs in your browser. Your pay, your Form W-4 entries and your result are not sent to a server and are not saved.
Tips for an accurate estimate
- Use only your federal Form W-4. Tennessee has no state withholding form and no state tax line.
- Take the 30-minute unpaid break out of your hours before you enter them. It is not paid time.
- If you are paid once a month, choose monthly, so the federal tax is worked out on 12 paychecks.
- Interest and dividends no longer need a Tennessee return, so do not add extra withholding for the old Hall tax.
- Compare each federal line with your pay stub. With no state line, a difference can only come from the Form W-4 or a benefit deduction.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
- Does Tennessee have a state income tax?
- No. The Tennessee Constitution bars any state or local tax on payroll or earned personal income. The Hall income tax on interest and dividends was repealed for tax periods beginning on 1 January 2021 or later.
- How much is $75,000 after taxes in Tennessee?
- A single filer paid $75,000 a year in Tennessee takes home $61,593 in 2026, or $2,368.94 every two weeks. Federal income tax is $7,670, Social Security and Medicare are $5,738, and Tennessee income tax is $0.
- What taxes come out of a paycheck in Tennessee?
- Federal income tax, Social Security tax of 6.2% and Medicare tax of 1.45%. Tennessee takes no state income tax and no city or county income tax from wages, and its unemployment tax is paid by employers.
- What was the Hall income tax?
- A Tennessee tax on interest from bonds and notes and on dividends from stock. It did not apply to wages. The Department of Revenue says it was repealed for tax periods that begin on 1 January 2021 or later.
- What is the minimum wage in Tennessee in 2026?
- $7.25 an hour. Tennessee has no state minimum wage law, so the federal rate applies, and state law stops local governments from requiring a higher wage from private employers.
- When is a final paycheck due in Tennessee?
- No later than the next regular payday or 21 days after the employee leaves, whichever comes later. The rule is the same for an employee who quits and one who is dismissed.
- Does Tennessee require a lunch break?
- Yes, for longer shifts. An employee scheduled to work 6 consecutive hours gets a 30-minute unpaid meal or rest period, unless the workplace by its nature gives ample opportunity to rest.
Sources
Every rate, bracket and limit this calculator uses comes from the official sources below. The method is shown on this page, so any result can be checked by hand.
- Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Constitution, Article II, Section 28 (House Joint Resolution 35, ratified 2014). The bar on any state or local tax upon payroll or earned personal income.
- Tennessee Department of Revenue, Hall Income Tax. The repeal of the tax on interest and dividends for tax periods beginning on 1 January 2021 or later.
- Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Wages and Breaks; minimum wage and overtime questions; unemployment insurance tax rates. Paydays, final pay within 21 days, the 30-minute break, minimum wage and overtime, and the $7,000 unemployment tax wage base.
- Tennessee General Assembly, Tennessee Code Sections 50-2-103 and 50-2-112; Public Chapter 617 (2026). Payday dates, final pay, the meal break, the limit on local wage laws and the 2026 change for piecework and commission pay.
- U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees (table revised 1 July 2026). State minimum wages, cash wages for tipped employees and maximum tip credits.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 2024 1-year estimates, table B19013. Median household income by state.
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods. Worksheet 1A and the 2026 Percentage Method Tables for Automated Payroll Systems: every bracket, rate and the $12,900 and $8,600 amounts on line 1g.
- Internal Revenue Service, Topic no. 751, Social Security and Medicare withholding rates. Social Security 6.2%, Medicare 1.45%, and Additional Medicare Tax of 0.9% on wages above $200,000 in a calendar year.
- Social Security Administration, Contribution and Benefit Base. The 2026 Social Security wage base of $184,500.