Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Physician Assistants actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 22.8% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Physician Assistants earning $118,240 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $118,240 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$17,916 | 15.2% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$7,330 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,714 | 1.5% |
| Total Taxes | -$26,961 | 22.8% |
| Take-Home Pay | $91,278 | 77.2% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Physician Assistants in Tennessee.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $93,380 | -$19,528 | $73,851 | 20.9% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $102,690 | -$22,288 | $80,401 | 21.7% |
| Median (P50) | $118,240 | -$26,961 | $91,278 | 22.8% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $132,500 | -$31,474 | $101,025 | 23.8% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $141,670 | -$34,377 | $107,292 | 24.3% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Physician Assistants keeps $91,278 of their $118,240 salary — 77.2% of gross pay. Only federal income tax and FICA reduce the paycheck, making Tennessee one of the most tax-friendly states for this occupation.
With an effective total rate of 22.8%, a Physician Assistants in Tennessee keeps $91,279 of $118,240 gross — roughly typical for U.S. middle-income earners once federal, FICA and state taxes are combined.
Tennessee is one of the few states with zero state income tax for wage earners. For a Physician Assistants, 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 ($17,916) accounts for 66% of the total tax bill — the single largest deduction. FICA adds $9,045 (34%), and state tax the remaining $0 (0%).
Tennessee sits near the bottom (#43 of 51) for Physician Assistants after-tax earnings. Relocation, negotiation, or credential stacking typically show the clearest ROI in bottom-quartile states.
Translated into paycheck cadences, $91,279 net/year works out to $7,607/month or $3,511/bi-weekly for this Physician Assistants in Tennessee — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Physician Assistants keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #43 out of 51 states for Physician Assistants after-tax take-home pay.
A Physician Assistants in Tennessee earning a median salary of $118,240 will take home approximately $91,278 per year after federal income tax ($17,916), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($9,045). That is $7,606 per month or $3,510 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Physician Assistants in Tennessee is 22.8%, broken down as: federal income tax 15.2%, 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 Physician Assistants 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 22.8%.
After all taxes, a Physician Assistants in Tennessee takes home approximately $7,606 per month, or about $43.88 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 $118,240 for Physician Assistants 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 — $91,278/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