Tennessee Paycheck Calculator 2026
Enter your pay to see what lands in your bank account. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so only federal taxes come out — and we show each one.
| Per paycheck | Amount | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $2,115.38 | $55,000.00 |
| Federal income tax · withheld | −$170.00 | −$4,420.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$131.15 | −$3,410.00 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$30.67 | −$797.50 |
| Tennessee income tax · Tennessee has none | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Take-home pay | $1,783.56 | $46,372.50 |
How the federal income tax was worked out
| Pay subject to income tax, for the year · $2,115.38 × 26 paychecks | $55,000.00 |
| Minus the IRS withholding allowance · Pub 15-T Worksheet 1A, line 1g | −$8,600.00 |
| Adjusted yearly wage | $46,400.00 |
| Tax from the IRS yearly table · standard table | $4,420.00 |
| Federal income tax per paycheck · divided by 26 | $170.00 |
IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Worksheet 1A — the percentage method payroll software uses for a Form W-4 from 2020 or later. Your employer's figure can differ by a few cents because of rounding.
What comes out of a Tennessee paycheck
- Federal income tax withholding — worked out from your pay and your Form W-4, using the IRS tables for 2026.
- Social Security — 6.2% of your pay, up to $184,500 of pay in 2026. Above that, it stops for the rest of the year.
- Medicare — 1.45% of all your pay, plus 0.9% on pay above $200,000 in the year.
Tennessee has no state income tax on earned income, so employers have no Tennessee tax to withhold. A Tennessee paycheck has only the federal deductions above taken out, plus whatever you chose, such as a 401(k), health insurance or union dues.
What's different about Tennessee
No tax on wages — and none on investment income either
The Tennessee Department of Revenue says plainly that the state has no income tax on earned income and no withholding requirements. Tennessee used to tax interest and dividends through the Hall income tax, but that was phased out and fully repealed from January 1, 2021. So there is no Tennessee withholding form to fill in when you start a job — only the federal Form W-4.
When you must be paid
Tennessee law requires pay at least once a month, on regular paydays. Employers who pay twice a month or more often must pay wages earned before the 1st of a month by the 20th of that month, and wages earned before the 16th by the 5th of the next month.
Your last paycheck
Whether you quit or are let go, your final pay is due by the next regular payday or 21 days after you leave — whichever comes later.
Meal breaks
If you are scheduled to work 6 hours in a row, Tennessee requires a 30-minute unpaid meal or rest break, unless your work naturally gives you ample chances to take breaks (as in some restaurant jobs). Because the break is unpaid, it isn't counted in your hours — enter only the hours you are paid for.
Moving to Tennessee
If you move to Tennessee from a state with an income tax, your take-home pay rises by roughly what that state was withholding. If you live in Tennessee but work in a state that taxes wages, that state may still withhold its tax; this calculator covers work done in Tennessee.
Why your paycheck might differ from this
- Your W-4. Credits for children (Step 3), a checked Step 2 box, or extra withholding (Step 4c) change the federal amount a lot. Open "Tips, 401(k), health insurance and W-4 details" above to enter them.
- Benefits taken before tax. Health insurance through work usually lowers income tax and Social Security and Medicare. A traditional 401(k) lowers income tax only.
- Rounding. Payroll software may round each step, so a few cents of difference is normal.
Tips and overtime in 2026
New federal deductions apply for 2025 through 2028: up to $25,000 for qualified tips, and up to $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers) for the extra "half" of time-and-a-half overtime. Both phase out above $150,000 of income ($300,000 joint).
These are deductions on your tax return. Your employer still takes Social Security and Medicare out of tips and overtime, and still withholds income tax unless you tell it otherwise. If you expect to claim them, you can put the expected amount in Step 4(b) of your W-4 (and in the Step 4(b) box above) so less income tax is withheld during the year.
Other Tennessee calculators
Paycheck calculator · Hourly paycheck calculator · Salary paycheck calculator · What changed for 2026
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Sources
- IRS Publication 15-T (2026), Federal Income Tax Withholding Methods — Worksheet 1A and the annual percentage-method tables
- IRS Publication 15 (2026), Employer's Tax Guide — Social Security and Medicare rates
- Social Security Administration — 2026 wage base of $184,500
- IRS — tips and overtime deductions
- Tennessee Department of Revenue — GEN-34 Income Tax Withholding — no state income tax on earned income and no withholding requirements
- Tennessee Department of Revenue — Hall income tax repealed — fully repealed beginning January 1, 2021
- Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Wages and breaks — paydays, final pay and meal breaks (Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-103)
- U.S. Department of Labor — State minimum wage laws
- U.S. Department of Labor — Minimum wages for tipped employees — table updated July 1, 2026
- U.S. Department of Labor — Overtime pay — time and one-half after 40 hours in a workweek
Questions
Does Tennessee take state tax out of my paycheck?
No. Tennessee has no state income tax on earned income, so there is nothing for your employer to withhold for the state. Only federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare are taken out, plus any benefits you signed up for.
How much is taken out of a $1,000 paycheck in Tennessee?
For a single filer paid every two weeks with nothing else on the W-4, a $1,000 paycheck has about $38.08 of federal income tax, $62.00 of Social Security and $14.50 of Medicare taken out, leaving $885.42. Enter your own details in the calculator for your exact figure.
What is $20 an hour after taxes in Tennessee?
Working 40 hours a week and paid every two weeks, $20 an hour is $1,600.00 before tax and about $1,369.45 after tax per paycheck — $35,605.60 a year — for a single filer with a standard W-4.
When do I get my last paycheck in Tennessee?
By the next regular payday or 21 days after you leave, whichever is later — the same rule whether you quit or were let go.
What is the minimum wage in Tennessee?
$7.25 an hour, the federal minimum wage, because Tennessee has no minimum wage law of its own. Tipped employees can be paid $2.13 an hour in cash as long as tips bring them up to $7.25.
Does Tennessee tax interest or dividends?
Not any more. The Hall income tax on interest and dividends was fully repealed starting January 1, 2021.