Indiana vs 
Tennessee
Take-home pay after federal tax, state income tax, and FICA — calculated with the same engine as our paycheck calculator.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Winner at $100k
Tennessee
Extra take-home / year
$2,950
Per month
$246
Over 10 years
$29,500
Moving from Indiana → Tennessee at $100,000
Metric vs metric
Lower tax and cost figures generally favor the highlighted cell. Rate structure notes sit under each state's calculator link.
| Metric | Indiana | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 2.95% · Flat 2.95% | 0% · No state income tax (0%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~7% | ~9.61% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.76% | ~0.52% |
| Cost of living index | 88.3 | 88.9 |
| Median household income | $68,800 | $66,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% | 3.3% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Indiana rate structure
Flat 2.95% state income tax on taxable wages (before credits).
Tennessee rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
Overview
Indiana has flat 2.95%, while Tennessee has no state income tax. Moving from Indiana to Tennessee saves about $2,950/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~7% vs ~9.61%. Property tax: ~0.76% vs ~0.52%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $68,800 vs $66,800.
Take-home by income
Net pay after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA — single filer, standard deduction, no dependents (2026). Advantage is take-home in Tennessee minus Indiana.
| Gross | Indiana take-home | Tennessee take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,880 | $42,355 | +$1,475 |
| $75,000 | $59,380 | $61,593 | +$2,213 |
| $100,000Headline | $76,230 | $79,180 | +$2,950 |
| $150,000 | $109,366 | $113,791 | +$4,425 |
| $200,000 | $143,027 | $148,927 | +$5,900 |
| $500,000 | $325,727 | $340,477 | +$14,750 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 23.8% in Indiana vs 20.8% in Tennessee. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Indiana vs Tennessee
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Indiana | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $2,950 | $0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $76,230 | $79,180 |
| Effective total tax rate | 23.8% | 20.8% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,353 | $6,598 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~7% (Indiana) vs ~9.61% (Tennessee); effective property tax ~0.76% vs ~0.52%.
Pros & cons: Indiana vs Tennessee
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Indiana
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~7% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
- Use the Indiana paycheck calculator for your filing status and deductions
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 2.95%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $2,950/year less take-home at $100k vs Tennessee
- −Higher effective property tax (~0.76% vs ~0.52% in Tennessee)
- −Higher unemployment rate (3.6% vs 3.3%)
Tennessee
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Indiana's state tax
- About $2,950/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Indiana
- Lower effective property tax (~0.52% vs ~0.76% in Indiana)
- Lower unemployment rate (3.3% vs 3.6%)
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~9.61% vs ~7% in Indiana)
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
- −Housing, insurance, and wages can outweigh pure income-tax differences
Who wins when
Quick read on when each state is the better fit — beyond the headline tax number.
- Tennessee wins on take-home pay at every salary band in our ladder (single filer, standard deduction).
- Indiana: Lower combined sales tax (~7% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Indiana: Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
- Tennessee: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Indiana's state tax
- Tennessee: About $2,950/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Indiana
How we calculate Indiana vs Tennessee
Tax engine. Federal income tax uses 2026 IRS brackets and the standard deduction for a single filer. FICA includes Social Security and Medicare employee shares. State income tax applies Indiana's and Tennessee's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 2.95% vs No state income tax (0%)).
What's included. Wage income only — no capital gains, self-employment tax, itemized deductions, credits, or local city wage taxes (e.g. NYC) unless noted. Sales tax (~7% vs ~9.61%) and property tax (~0.76% vs ~0.52%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (88.3 vs 88.9, 100 = US average) and median household income ($68,800 vs $66,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Indiana → Tennessee relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Indiana vs Tennessee taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Indiana → Tennessee?
Model cost-of-living equivalent salary, or open each state's paycheck calculator with your filing status and deductions.
Related tools
Estimates only for tax year 2026. Not tax advice — verify with your state tax agency or a CPA before relocating. Figures assume a single filer with the standard deduction and no dependents.