Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How much does a Waiters and Waitresses actually take home in Tennessee?
No state income tax — 12.5% effective total tax rateData: BLS OEWS 2025 + IRS/State Tax Brackets 2024 • Updated 2026-05-19
Detailed line-by-line tax calculation for a Waiters and Waitresses earning $27,760 in Tennessee (single filer, standard deduction).
| Tax Component | Annual Amount | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary (Median) | $27,760 | — |
| Federal Income Tax | -$1,347 | 4.9% |
| Tennessee State Income Tax | -$0 | 0.0% |
| Social Security (OASDI) | -$1,721 | 6.2% |
| Medicare | -$402 | 1.4% |
| Total Taxes | -$3,470 | 12.5% |
| Take-Home Pay | $24,289 | 87.5% |
Take-home pay varies significantly across experience levels. Here is the after-tax breakdown for each salary percentile of Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee.
| Percentile | Gross Salary | Total Taxes | Take-Home Pay | Tax Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $15,080 | -$1,201 | $13,878 | 8.0% |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $16,790 | -$1,503 | $15,286 | 9.0% |
| Median (P50) | $27,760 | -$3,470 | $24,289 | 12.5% |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $37,380 | -$5,361 | $32,018 | 14.3% |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $47,660 | -$7,381 | $40,278 | 15.5% |
Tennessee has no state income tax, which means a Waiters and Waitresses keeps $24,289 of their $27,760 salary — 87.5% 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 Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee faces an effective total tax rate of only 12.5%, keeping 87.5% of every gross dollar. That leaves $24,289 net out of $27,760 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 Waiters and Waitresses, 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 Waiters and Waitresses salary is $1,347 (39%), but combined state ($0, 0%) + FICA ($2,124, 61%) make up the other 61% of the bill.
Tennessee ranks #36 of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses 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, $24,289 net/year works out to $2,024/month or $934/bi-weekly for this Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee — the numbers that actually hit a checking account after every deduction.
Where does a Waiters and Waitresses keep the most of their paycheck? Top 10 states ranked by after-tax take-home pay.
Tennessee ranks #36 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after-tax take-home pay.
A Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee earning a median salary of $27,760 will take home approximately $24,289 per year after federal income tax ($1,347), state income tax ($0), and FICA ($2,123). That is $2,024 per month or $934 per bi-weekly paycheck.
The effective total tax rate for a Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee is 12.5%, broken down as: federal income tax 4.9%, 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 Waiters and Waitresses 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 12.5%.
After all taxes, a Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee takes home approximately $2,024 per month, or about $11.68 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 $27,760 for Waiters and Waitresses 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 — $24,289/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