Iowa 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
$3,800
Per month
$317
Over 10 years
$38,000
Moving from Iowa → 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 | Iowa | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 3.80% · Flat 3.80% | 0% · No state income tax (0%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~6.94% | ~9.61% |
| Effective property tax | ~1.33% | ~0.52% |
| Cost of living index | 88.6 | 88.9 |
| Median household income | $72,800 | $66,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 2.9% | 3.3% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Iowa rate structure
Flat 3.80% 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
Iowa has flat 3.80%, while Tennessee has no state income tax. Moving from Iowa to Tennessee saves about $3,800/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~6.94% vs ~9.61%. Property tax: ~1.33% vs ~0.52%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $72,800 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 Iowa.
| Gross | Iowa take-home | Tennessee take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,455 | $42,355 | +$1,900 |
| $75,000 | $58,743 | $61,593 | +$2,850 |
| $100,000Headline | $75,380 | $79,180 | +$3,800 |
| $150,000 | $108,091 | $113,791 | +$5,700 |
| $200,000 | $141,327 | $148,927 | +$7,600 |
| $500,000 | $321,477 | $340,477 | +$19,000 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 24.6% in Iowa vs 20.8% in Tennessee. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Iowa vs Tennessee
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Iowa | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $3,800 | $0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $75,380 | $79,180 |
| Effective total tax rate | 24.6% | 20.8% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,282 | $6,598 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~6.94% (Iowa) vs ~9.61% (Tennessee); effective property tax ~1.33% vs ~0.52%.
Pros & cons: Iowa vs Tennessee
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Iowa
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~6.94% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Higher median household income ($72,800 ACS 2024 vs $66,800)
- Lower unemployment rate (2.9% vs 3.3%)
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 3.80%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $3,800/year less take-home at $100k vs Tennessee
- −Higher effective property tax (~1.33% vs ~0.52% in Tennessee)
Tennessee
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Iowa's state tax
- About $3,800/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Iowa
- Lower effective property tax (~0.52% vs ~1.33% in Iowa)
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~9.61% vs ~6.94% in Iowa)
- −Lower median household income ($66,800 ACS 2024 vs $72,800)
- −Higher unemployment rate (3.3% vs 2.9%)
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).
- Iowa: Lower combined sales tax (~6.94% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Iowa: Higher median household income ($72,800 ACS 2024 vs $66,800)
- Tennessee: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Iowa's state tax
- Tennessee: About $3,800/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Iowa
How we calculate Iowa 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 Iowa's and Tennessee's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 3.80% 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 (~6.94% vs ~9.61%) and property tax (~1.33% vs ~0.52%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (88.6 vs 88.9, 100 = US average) and median household income ($72,800 vs $66,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Iowa → Tennessee relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Iowa vs Tennessee taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Iowa → 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.