Tennessee Salary Percentile
Calculator
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages — only a Hall Tax on investment income, which was fully repealed in 2021. Nashville and Memphis are the primary metros, with significant healthcare, music, and logistics sectors.
Enter your gross annual salary (pre-tax). Hourly workers: multiply hourly rate by 2,080.
Tennessee salary percentiles — May 2025
| Percentile | Tennessee | National |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $29K | $31K |
| 25th | $35K | $38K |
| 50th (median)median | $47K | $51K |
| 75th | $75K | $81K |
| 90th | $119K | $129K |
State figures derived from BLS OEWS May 2025 state median. National figures from BLS national percentile data.
Key insight
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages. The state median of $47K is below the national median, but the tax advantage significantly improves effective purchasing power for residents.
Tennessee salary — frequently asked questions
What is the median salary in Tennessee?
The median annual salary in Tennessee is approximately $47K based on May 2025 BLS data, below the national median. The no-income-tax advantage partially offsets lower gross wages. Nashville's healthcare and entertainment sector wages are significantly above the state median.
What is Nashville's economy based on?
Nashville is the healthcare industry capital of the US by number of headquarters — HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, and dozens of healthcare companies are based there. Healthcare IT and music industry are also major employers. Nashville wages in healthcare and tech run 25-35% above the Tennessee state median.
What is a good salary in Nashville?
Nashville's rapid growth has pushed housing costs significantly higher. A salary of $65,000-$75,000 is recommended for comfortable single living in Nashville today. The metro's population growth from inbound migration from higher-cost states has raised rents and home prices faster than wages in many sectors.
Does Tennessee have any state income taxes?
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages or salaries. Tennessee previously had the Hall Tax on investment income (dividends and interest), but that was fully repealed effective January 1, 2021. Tennessee relies primarily on sales tax, which at 7% is one of the highest in the US, partially offsetting the income tax advantage for lower earners.
What is the average salary in Tennessee?
"Average" and "median" measure different things, but BLS reports the median: the midpoint where half of Tennessee workers earn more and half earn less. The Tennessee median is $47K, below the national median of $51K. Use the calculator above to see exactly where your salary ranks.
Salary percentiles by state
Alabama
$46K median
Alaska
$61K median
Arizona
$50K median
Arkansas
$44K median
California
$58K median
Colorado
$60K median
Connecticut
$60K median
Delaware
$52K median
Florida
$48K median
Georgia
$48K median
Hawaii
$56K median
Idaho
$48K median
Illinois
$52K median
Indiana
$48K median
Iowa
$49K median
Kansas
$48K median
Kentucky
$47K median
Louisiana
$46K median
Maine
$51K median
Maryland
$60K median
Massachusetts
$64K median
Michigan
$49K median
Minnesota
$57K median
Mississippi
$40K median
Missouri
$48K median
Montana
$49K median
Nebraska
$49K median
Nevada
$48K median
New Hampshire
$56K median
New Jersey
$59K median
New Mexico
$47K median
New York
$60K median
North Carolina
$48K median
North Dakota
$52K median
Ohio
$49K median
Oklahoma
$46K median
Oregon
$57K median
Pennsylvania
$50K median
Rhode Island
$57K median
South Carolina
$46K median
South Dakota
$47K median
Tennessee
$47K median
Texas
$49K median
Utah
$50K median
Vermont
$56K median
Virginia
$56K median
Washington
$63K median
Washington D.C.
$92K median
West Virginia
$45K median
Wisconsin
$50K median
Wyoming
$50K median