Tennessee Paycheck Calculator

Calculate your take-home pay per paycheck for salary and hourly jobs after federal & Tennessee taxes

Updated for 2025 tax year on Feb 14, 2025

Calculate your paycheck in these states

How to calculate your Tennessee paycheck

Overview of Tennessee

Tennessee has a population of over 6.8 million (2019) and is known for, in no particular order, hot chicken, country music, whiskey, and barbecue.

Brief summary:

• zero state-level income tax rate
• no state-level payroll tax
• no standard deductions and exemptions
• only needs to pay federal income tax

Understanding your Tennessee paycheck

If you live and work in Tennessee, you are well that the state has no income tax. But understanding how your Tennessee paycheck is calculated, even without the burden of state income tax, remains essential for effectively managing your finances. Here, we’ll break down your paycheck components to help you navigate the process.

When you start a new job or experience a significant life event, you need to fill out a W-4 form. This document is critical for your employer to determine the proper federal income tax withholding based on your filing status and any additional deductions you may request. Pay frequency – whether you’re paid weekly, biweekly, or monthly – also affects your paycheck.

Your marital status plays a significant role in your tax deductions. For instance, married couples filing jointly can enjoy lower tax rates compared to single filers. Furthermore, pre-tax deductions can help reduce your taxable income. Some examples are contributions to a 401(k) plan or health savings account (HSA). This can lower your overall tax liability, giving you more take-home pay to enjoy.

As mentioned earlier, Tennessee is known for its lack of state income tax. Moreover, there is no state payroll tax or local income taxes. While other states may rely on these revenue streams, Tennessee generates revenue from sales and property taxes instead.

In Tennessee, there is no need to worry about state standard deductions or personal exemptions since there’s no state income tax. This makes the calculation of your net pay much simpler compared to states that impose income taxes.

Lastly, let’s not forget about post-tax deductions. These are the amounts withheld from your paycheck after taxes have been calculated. Common post-tax deductions include garnishments, charitable donations, or after-tax contributions to retirement accounts. It’s essential to account for these deductions when reviewing your paycheck and managing your finances.

Calculate your Tennessee paycheck

Calculating your Tennessee state income tax is different from the steps we listed on our main paycheck calculator page:

1. Determine your gross income
   • Annual salary
     Annual salary = Gross income
   • Hourly wage
     Hourly wage × Hours worked per day × Days worked per week × Weeks worked per year = Your weekly paycheck
2. Work out your total federal income tax
   1. Gross income adjusted
      Gross income − Pre-tax deductions = Gross income adjusted
   2. Federal taxable income
      Gross income adjusted − Federal standard/itemized deductions = Federal taxable income
   3. Federal income tax liability
      Federal taxable income × Federal income tax rate = Federal income tax liability
   4. Federal payroll tax liability
      Gross income × Federal payroll tax rate = Federal payroll tax liability
3. Figure out your net pay
   You need to account for any other deductions such as health insurance, 401(k) contribution, as well as additional withholdings.
   Gross income − (Total income tax liability + Total payroll tax liability + Total pre-tax deductions + Total post-tax deductions + Total withholdings) = Your net pay
4. Divide your net pay by your pay frequency
   
   • Daily
     Your net pay / Days worked per week / Weeks worked per year = Your daily paycheck
   • Weekly
     Your net pay / 52 = Your weekly paycheck
   • Bi-weekly
     Your net pay / 26 = Your bi-weekly paycheck
   • Semi-monthly
     Your net pay / 24 = Your semi-monthly paycheck
   • Monthly
     Your net pay / 12 = Your monthly paycheck
   • Quarterly
     Your net pay / 4 = Your quarterly paycheck
   • Semi-annual
     Your net pay / 2 = Your semi-annual paycheck
   • Annual
     Your net pay = Your annual paycheck

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