Pennsylvania 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
$3,070
Per month
$256
Over 10 years
$30,700
Moving from Pennsylvania → 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 | Pennsylvania | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 3.07% · Flat 3.07% | 0% · No state income tax (0%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~6.34% | ~9.61% |
| Effective property tax | ~1.26% | ~0.52% |
| Cost of living index | 96.2 | 88.9 |
| Median household income | $72,800 | $66,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.3% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Pennsylvania rate structure
Flat 3.07% 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
Pennsylvania has flat 3.07%, while Tennessee has no state income tax. Moving from Pennsylvania to Tennessee saves about $3,070/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~6.34% vs ~9.61%. Property tax: ~1.26% 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 Pennsylvania.
| Gross | Pennsylvania take-home | Tennessee take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,820 | $42,355 | +$1,535 |
| $75,000 | $59,290 | $61,593 | +$2,303 |
| $100,000Headline | $76,110 | $79,180 | +$3,070 |
| $150,000 | $109,186 | $113,791 | +$4,605 |
| $200,000 | $142,787 | $148,927 | +$6,140 |
| $500,000 | $325,127 | $340,477 | +$15,350 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 23.9% in Pennsylvania vs 20.8% in Tennessee. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Pennsylvania vs Tennessee
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Pennsylvania | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $3,070 | $0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $76,110 | $79,180 |
| Effective total tax rate | 23.9% | 20.8% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,343 | $6,598 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~6.34% (Pennsylvania) vs ~9.61% (Tennessee); effective property tax ~1.26% vs ~0.52%.
Pros & cons: Pennsylvania vs Tennessee
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Pennsylvania
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~6.34% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Higher median household income ($72,800 ACS 2024 vs $66,800)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
Cons
- −State income tax (Flat 3.07%) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $3,070/year less take-home at $100k vs Tennessee
- −Higher effective property tax (~1.26% vs ~0.52% in Tennessee)
- −Higher cost of living index (96.2 vs 88.9; 100 = US average)
Tennessee
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Pennsylvania's state tax
- About $3,070/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Pennsylvania
- Lower effective property tax (~0.52% vs ~1.26% in Pennsylvania)
- Lower cost of living index (88.9 vs 96.2; 100 = US average)
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~9.61% vs ~6.34% in Pennsylvania)
- −Lower median household income ($66,800 ACS 2024 vs $72,800)
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
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).
- Pennsylvania: Lower combined sales tax (~6.34% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Pennsylvania: Higher median household income ($72,800 ACS 2024 vs $66,800)
- Tennessee: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Pennsylvania's state tax
- Tennessee: About $3,070/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Pennsylvania
How we calculate Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania's and Tennessee's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Flat 3.07% 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 (~6.34% vs ~9.61%) and property tax (~1.26% vs ~0.52%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (96.2 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 Pennsylvania → Tennessee relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pennsylvania vs Tennessee taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Pennsylvania → 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.