How much does a Physicists actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 23.1% 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 Physicists earning $121,760 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $121,760 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$18,760 | 15.4% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$7,549 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$1,765 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$28,075 | 23.1% |
| Take-Home Pay | $93,684 | 76.9% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Physicists in Tennessee.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $61,610 | -$10,122 | $51,487 | 16.4% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $63,510 | -$10,671 | $52,838 | 16.8% |
| Median (P50) | $121,760 | -$28,075 | $93,684 | 23.1% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $169,690 | -$43,177 | $126,512 | 25.4% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $220,750 | -$57,495 | $163,254 | 26.0% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Physicists keeps $93,684 of their $121,760 salary — 76.9% 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 Physicists keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #23 out of 38 states for Physicists after-tax take-home pay.
A Physicists in Tennessee earning a median salary of $121,760 will take home approximately $93,684 per year after federal income tax ($18,760), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($9,314). That is $7,807 per month or $3,603 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Physicists in Tennessee is 23.1%, broken down as: federal income tax 15.4%, 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 Physicists 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 23.1%.
After all taxes, a Physicists in Tennessee takes home approximately $7,807 per month, or about $45.04 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 $121,760 for Physicists 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 — $93,684/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