Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Firefighters actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 15.6% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Firefighters earning $49,300 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $49,300 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$3,932 | 8.0% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$3,056 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$714 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$7,703 | 15.6% |
| Take-Home Pay | $41,596 | 84.4% |
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) | $33,910 | -$4,679 | $29,230 | 13.8% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $39,360 | -$5,750 | $33,609 | 14.6% |
| Median (P50) | $49,300 | -$7,703 | $41,596 | 15.6% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $61,670 | -$10,134 | $51,535 | 16.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $70,460 | -$12,732 | $57,727 | 18.1% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Firefighters keeps $41,596 of their $49,300 salary — 84.4% 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 Firefighters in Tennessee faces an effective total tax rate of only 15.6%, keeping 84.4% of every gross dollar. That leaves $41,597 net out of $49,300 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 Firefighters, 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 Firefighters salary is $3,932 (51%), but combined state ($0, 0%) + FICA ($3,771, 49%) make up the other 49% of the bill.
Tennessee ranks #29 of 50 states for Firefighters after-tax pay — lower half of the national distribution. Either gross wages trail the national median, state tax is elevated, or both.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $41,597 net/year works out to $3,466/month or $1,600/bi-weekly for this Firefighters in Tennessee — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Firefighters keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #29 out of 50 states for Firefighters after-tax take-home pay.
A Firefighters in Tennessee earning a median salary of $49,300 will take home approximately $41,596 per year after federal income tax ($3,932), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($3,771). That is $3,466 per month or $1,599 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Firefighters in Tennessee is 15.6%, broken down as: federal income tax 8.0%, 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 15.6%.
After all taxes, a Firefighters in Tennessee takes home approximately $3,466 per month, or about $20.00 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 $49,300 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 — $41,596/yr — does not include local taxes, pre-tax deductions (401k, HSA), or tax credits.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
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