Wisconsin 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
$4,219
Per month
$352
Over 10 years
$42,190
Moving from Wisconsin → 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 | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | 7.65% · Progressive (top 7.65%) | 0% · No state income tax (0%) |
| Combined sales tax | ~5.72% | ~9.61% |
| Effective property tax | ~1.32% | ~0.52% |
| Cost of living index | 97.4 | 88.9 |
| Median household income | $74,800 | $66,800 |
| Unemployment rate | 3% | 3.3% |
Dig into each state's paycheck
Wisconsin rate structure
Progressive brackets with a top marginal rate of about 7.65%.
Tennessee rate structure
No state income tax on wages; revenue relies more on sales and property taxes.
Overview
Wisconsin has progressive (top 7.65%), while Tennessee has no state income tax. Moving from Wisconsin to Tennessee saves about $4,219/year in take-home at $100,000 gross (single filer). Sales tax: ~5.72% vs ~9.61%. Property tax: ~1.32% vs ~0.52%. Median household income (ACS 2024): $74,800 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 Wisconsin.
| Gross | Wisconsin take-home | Tennessee take-home | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,786 | $42,355 | +$1,569 |
| $75,000 | $58,698 | $61,593 | +$2,895 |
| $100,000Headline | $74,961 | $79,180 | +$4,219 |
| $150,000 | $106,922 | $113,791 | +$6,869 |
| $200,000 | $139,408 | $148,927 | +$9,519 |
| $500,000 | $311,025 | $340,477 | +$29,452 |
Assumptions: single filer, standard deduction, no dependents, tax year 2026. At $100k: FICA ≈ $7,650 in both states; effective total tax rate ≈ 25% in Wisconsin vs 20.8% in Tennessee. Local city taxes are not included unless noted.
$100k tax breakdown: Wisconsin vs Tennessee
Where a $100,000 paycheck goes after federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA (2026, single filer).
| Line item | Wisconsin | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Gross pay | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Federal income tax (est.) | $13,170 | $13,170 |
| State income tax | $4,219 | $0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | $7,650 | $7,650 |
| Take-home pay | $74,961 | $79,180 |
| Effective total tax rate | 25% | 20.8% |
| Monthly take-home | $6,247 | $6,598 |
Federal estimates can differ slightly between states when state interactions affect taxable income. Combined sales tax ~5.72% (Wisconsin) vs ~9.61% (Tennessee); effective property tax ~1.32% vs ~0.52%.
Pros & cons: Wisconsin vs Tennessee
Tax structure, living costs, and lifestyle trade-offs beyond the paycheck number.
Wisconsin
Pros
- Lower combined sales tax (~5.72% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Higher median household income ($74,800 ACS 2024 vs $66,800)
- Modeled with our 2026 federal + state + FICA paycheck engine
Cons
- −State income tax (Progressive (top 7.65%)) reduces take-home vs a $0-income-tax peer
- −Roughly $4,219/year less take-home at $100k vs Tennessee
- −Higher effective property tax (~1.32% vs ~0.52% in Tennessee)
- −Higher cost of living index (97.4 vs 88.9; 100 = US average)
Tennessee
Pros
- No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Wisconsin's state tax
- About $4,219/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Wisconsin
- Lower effective property tax (~0.52% vs ~1.32% in Wisconsin)
- Lower cost of living index (88.9 vs 97.4; 100 = US average)
Cons
- −Higher combined sales tax (~9.61% vs ~5.72% in Wisconsin)
- −Lower median household income ($66,800 ACS 2024 vs $74,800)
- −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).
- Wisconsin: Lower combined sales tax (~5.72% vs ~9.61% in Tennessee)
- Wisconsin: Higher median household income ($74,800 ACS 2024 vs $66,800)
- Tennessee: No state income tax on wages — $0 withholding vs Wisconsin's state tax
- Tennessee: About $4,219/year more take-home at $100k gross (single) vs Wisconsin
How we calculate Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin's and Tennessee's rules as modeled in our US calculator (Progressive (top 7.65%) 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 (~5.72% vs ~9.61%) and property tax (~1.32% vs ~0.52%) are context metrics, not subtracted from the take-home ladder.
Cost of living. COL indexes (97.4 vs 88.9, 100 = US average) and median household income ($74,800 vs $66,800) help interpret whether a paycheck win buys more in real life. For city-level equivalent salary, use the Wisconsin → Tennessee relocation calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Wisconsin vs Tennessee taxes, take-home pay, and relocation.
Moving Wisconsin → 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.