Tennessee vs 
Arkansas
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
$3,622
Per month
$302
Over 10 years
$36,220
Moving from Arkansas → 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 | Tennessee | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 0% · No state income tax (0%) | 3.90% · Progressive (top 3.90%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~9.61% | ~9.48% |
| Effective property tax | ~0.52% | ~0.56% |
| Cost of living index | 88.9 | 89.1 |
| Median household income | $66,800 | $57,200 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | 3.5% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Tennessee rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
Arkansas rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 3.90%.
Overview
Tennessee has no state income tax, while Arkansas has progressive (top 3.90%). Staying in Tennessee (vs Arkansas) saves about $3,622/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~9.61% vs ~9.48%. Property tax: ~0.52% vs ~0.56%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $66,800 vs $57,200.
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 Arkansas minus Tennessee.
| Gross | Tennessee take-home | Arkansas take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $42,355 | $40,583 | −$1,772 |
| $75,000 | $61,593 | $58,896 | −$2,697 |
| $100,000Headline | $79,180 | $75,558 | −$3,622 |
| $150,000 | $113,791 | $108,319 | −$5,472 |
| $200,000 | $148,927 | $141,605 | −$7,322 |
| $500,000 | $340,477 | $322,055 | −$18,422 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 20.8% in Tennessee vs 24.4% in Arkansas. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Tennessee vs Arkansas
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Tennessee | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $0 | $3,622 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $79,180 | $75,558 |
| Effective total tax rate | 20.8% | 24.4% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,598 | $6,297 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~9.61% (Tennessee) vs ~9.48% (Arkansas); effective property tax ~0.52% vs ~0.56%.
Pros & cons: Tennessee vs Arkansas
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Tennessee
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Arkansas's state tax
- About $3,622/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Arkansas
- Higher median household income ($66,800 ACS 2024 vs $57,200)
Cons
- −Local city/county taxes and credits are not fully modeled in the headline ladder
- −Housing, insurance, and wages can outweigh pure income-tax differences
- −Tax law changes — confirm rates with the state department of revenue
Arkansas
Pros
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
- Use the Arkansas paycheck calculator for your filing status and deductions
- Pair with sales/property tax when housing or spending is a large share of budget
Cons
- −State income tax (Progressive (top 3.90%)) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $3,622/year less take-home at $100k vs Tennessee
- −Lower median household income ($57,200 ACS 2024 vs $66,800)
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).
- Tennessee: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Arkansas's state tax
- Tennessee: About $3,622/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Arkansas
- Arkansas: Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
- Arkansas: Use the Arkansas paycheck calculator for your filing status and deductions
How we calculate Tennessee vs Arkansas
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 Tennessee's and Arkansas's rules as modeled in our US calculator (No state income tax (0%) vs Progressive (top 3.90%)).
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 (~9.61% vs ~9.48%) and property tax (~0.52% vs ~0.56%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (88.9 vs 89.1, 100 = US average) and median household income ($66,800 vs $57,200) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Tennessee → Arkansas relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Tennessee vs Arkansas taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Tennessee → Arkansas?
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.