Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Food Scientists and Technologists actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 19.7% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Food Scientists and Technologists earning $81,760 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $81,760 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$9,828 | 12.0% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$5,069 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,185 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$16,082 | 19.7% |
| Take-Home Pay | $65,677 | 80.3% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $64,660 | -$11,012 | $53,647 | 17.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $69,150 | -$12,343 | $56,806 | 17.9% |
| Median (P50) | $81,760 | -$16,082 | $65,677 | 19.7% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $95,210 | -$20,070 | $75,139 | 21.1% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $105,670 | -$23,172 | $82,497 | 21.9% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Food Scientists and Technologists keeps $65,677 of their $81,760 salary — 80.3% 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 Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee faces an effective total tax rate of only 19.7%, keeping 80.3% of every gross dollar. That leaves $65,677 net out of $81,760 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 Food Scientists and Technologists, 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 income tax ($9,828) accounts for 61% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $6,255 (39%), and state tax the remaining $0 (0%).
Tennessee ranks #19 of 39 states for Food Scientists and Technologists after-tax pay — comfortably in the upper half.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $65,677 net/year works out to $5,473/month or $2,526/bi-weekly for this Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Food Scientists and Technologists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #19 out of 39 states for Food Scientists and Technologists after-tax take-home pay.
A Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee earning a median salary of $81,760 will take home approximately $65,677 per year after federal income tax ($9,828), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($6,254). That is $5,473 per month or $2,526 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee is 19.7%, broken down as: federal income tax 12.0%, 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 Food Scientists and Technologists 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 19.7%.
After all taxes, a Food Scientists and Technologists in Tennessee takes home approximately $5,473 per month, or about $31.58 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 $81,760 for Food Scientists and Technologists 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 — $65,677/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