Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Couriers and Messengers actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 14.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Couriers and Messengers earning $40,270 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $40,270 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$2,848 | 7.1% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,496 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$583 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$5,929 | 14.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $34,340 | 85.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $33,360 | -$4,571 | $28,788 | 13.7% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $36,510 | -$5,190 | $31,319 | 14.2% |
| Median (P50) | $40,270 | -$5,929 | $34,340 | 14.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $44,110 | -$6,683 | $37,426 | 15.2% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $46,940 | -$7,239 | $39,700 | 15.4% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Couriers and Messengers keeps $34,340 of their $40,270 salary — 85.3% of gross pay. Only federal income tax and FICA reduce the paycheck, making Tennessee one of the most tax-friendly states for this occupation.
A Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee faces an effective total tax rate of only 14.7%, keeping 85.3% of every gross dollar. That leaves $34,341 net out of $40,270 gross — a favorable outcome compared to states with combined rates above 30%.
Tennessee is one of the few states with zero state income tax for wage earners. For a Couriers and Messengers, that means the only deductions are federal income tax and FICA — no additional state withholding. This typically adds several thousand dollars per year compared to comparable states with income tax.
Federal tax on this Couriers and Messengers salary is $2,848 (48%), but combined state ($0, 0%) + FICA ($3,081, 52%) make up the other 52% of the bill.
For Couriers and Messengers after-tax pay, Tennessee ranks #12 of 51 states — top quartile. High gross wages or low state-tax burden (or both) drive the strong ranking.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $34,341 net/year works out to $2,862/month or $1,321/bi-weekly for this Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Couriers and Messengers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #12 out of 51 states for Couriers and Messengers after-tax take-home pay.
A Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee earning a median salary of $40,270 will take home approximately $34,340 per year after federal income tax ($2,848), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($3,080). That is $2,861 per month or $1,320 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee is 14.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.1%, Tennessee state tax 0.0%, and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) 7.6%. This assumes a single filer with the standard deduction for 2024.
No, Tennessee does not levy a state income tax on wages. This means a Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee only pays federal income tax and FICA taxes, resulting in a lower overall tax burden compared to most other states. The total effective rate is 14.7%.
After all taxes, a Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee takes home approximately $2,861 per month, or about $16.51 per hour (based on a standard 2,080-hour work year). These figures assume a single filer, standard deduction, and no additional pre-tax deductions.
We start with the 2025 BLS median salary of $40,270 for Couriers and Messengers in Tennessee, then subtract: federal income tax using 2024 IRS brackets ($14,600 standard deduction), Tennessee state income tax (no state income tax), Social Security (6.2% up to $168,600), and Medicare (1.45%). The result — $34,340/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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This estimate assumes a single filer using the 2024 standard deduction ($14,600), with W-2 employment income only. It does not account for: itemized deductions, tax credits (e.g. earned income credit, child tax credit), local/city taxes, pre-tax contributions (401k, HSA, FSA), self-employment tax, or additional income sources. Actual take-home pay may differ. Consult a tax professional for personalized advice.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Salary: BLS OEWS · Tax: IRS + State DOR