Tennessee Salary Guide (2026)
Whether you're evaluating a job offer, negotiating a raise, or relocating to Tennessee, understanding what salaries look like in the TN job market is essential. Here's the latest SalaryLabs wage and tax context for pay in Tennessee.
Average Salaries in Tennessee by Occupation (2026)
| Job Title | Annual Salary | Hourly Rate | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Engineer | 98.000 | 47.12 | 8.167 |
| Registered Nurse | 64.000 | 30.77 | 5.333 |
| Teacher (Public) | 48.000 | 23.08 | 4.000 |
| Healthcare Manager | 72.000 | 34.62 | 6.000 |
| Accountant | 58.000 | 27.88 | 4.833 |
Source note: SalaryLabs editorial state wage references informed by public BLS wage context. Figures are directional benchmarks for Tennessee, not a live official lookup.
How to use this page: treat it as a quick state snapshot, not a filing-grade or relocation-grade answer. For a real decision, pair this directional wage context with the main Salary Calculator, Take Home Pay, and US Salary Heatmap.
Best use case in Tennessee: use this page when the question is not just “what is my gross hourly rate?” but “how should I read a salary in this state before I go deeper?” The most useful signal here is the combination of Nashville's higher local benchmark (65.000/year), no state income tax, and a cost-of-living index of 90. That mix tells you whether Tennessee looks stronger as a paycheck state, a purchasing-power state, or simply a neutral gross-pay reference before you run a fuller take-home or relocation check.
Cost of Living in Tennessee
Tennessee's cost of living index is 90 (national average = 100). Tennessee's cost of living is close to the national average, so a salary here is roughly equivalent in purchasing power to the same salary elsewhere.
Tennessee Tax Overview (2026)
When you receive your paycheck in Tennessee, the following deductions apply:
- Federal income tax: 10–37% depending on your income bracket (2026 IRS rates)
- Tennessee state income tax: no state income tax (Hall tax on dividends repealed 2021)
- Social Security: 6.2% on income up to $184,500
- Medicare: 1.45% on all income (additional 0.9% above $200K)
Minimum Wage in Tennessee (2026)
The minimum wage in Tennessee is $7.25 per hour as of 2026. At 40 hours per week for 52 weeks, that equals $15.080/year gross. This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.