How much does a Firefighters actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 15.0% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2024 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-04-02
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Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Firefighters earning $42,220 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $42,220 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,082 | 7.3% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$2,617 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$612 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$6,312 | 15.0% |
| Take-Home Pay | $35,907 | 85.0% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Firefighters in Tennessee.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $30,230 | -$3,956 | $26,273 | 13.1% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $35,080 | -$4,909 | $30,170 | 14.0% |
| Median (P50) | $42,220 | -$6,312 | $35,907 | 15.0% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $52,600 | -$8,351 | $44,248 | 15.9% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $62,390 | -$10,339 | $52,050 | 16.6% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Firefighters keeps $35,907 of their $42,220 salary — 85.0% of gross pay. Only federal income tax and FICA reduce the paycheck, making Tennessee one of the most tax-friendly states for this occupation.
Where does a Firefighters keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #37 out of 49 states for Firefighters after-tax take-home pay.
A Firefighters in Tennessee earning a median salary of $42,220 will take home approximately $35,907 per year after federal income tax ($3,082), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($3,229). That is $2,992 per month or $1,381 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Firefighters in Tennessee is 15.0%, broken down as: federal income tax 7.3%, 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 Firefighters 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 15.0%.
After all taxes, a Firefighters in Tennessee takes home approximately $2,992 per month, or about $17.26 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 2024 BLS median salary of $42,220 for Firefighters 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 — $35,907/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
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