How much does a Mechanical Engineers actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 21.3% 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 Mechanical Engineers earning $97,770 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $97,770 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$13,350 | 13.7% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$6,061 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,417 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$20,829 | 21.3% |
| Take-Home Pay | $76,940 | 78.7% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $63,260 | -$10,597 | $52,662 | 16.8% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $77,950 | -$14,953 | $62,996 | 19.2% |
| Median (P50) | $97,770 | -$20,829 | $76,940 | 21.3% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $117,100 | -$26,600 | $90,499 | 22.7% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $136,500 | -$32,740 | $103,759 | 24.0% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Mechanical Engineers keeps $76,940 of their $97,770 salary — 78.7% 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 Mechanical Engineers keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #12 out of 51 states for Mechanical Engineers after-tax take-home pay.
A Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee earning a median salary of $97,770 will take home approximately $76,940 per year after federal income tax ($13,350), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($7,479). That is $6,411 per month or $2,959 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee is 21.3%, broken down as: federal income tax 13.7%, 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 Mechanical Engineers 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 21.3%.
After all taxes, a Mechanical Engineers in Tennessee takes home approximately $6,411 per month, or about $36.99 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 $97,770 for Mechanical Engineers 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 — $76,940/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