Dental Assistant salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A dental assistant in Tennessee earns a median of $46,720 a year ($22.46/hour equivalent), 2.8% below the national median of $48,070. Tennessee ranks #34 of 50 states. About 7,420 people do this job in Tennessee.
Take-home pay in Tennessee
At the Tennessee median, a single filer keeps about $39,720 a year after federal, FICA and Tennessee taxes — $1,528 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $1,796.92
- Federal income tax
- −$131.78
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$111.41
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$26.06
- Tennessee income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,527.67
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $46,720
- Federal
- $3,426
- FICA
- $3,574
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $39,720
- Marginal federal rate
- 12.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
How Tennessee compares
| Rank | State | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Minnesota | $65,270 |
| #2 | District of Columbia | $60,580 |
| #3 | Maine | $60,070 |
| #4 | New Hampshire | $59,530 |
| #5 | Oregon | $59,490 |
| #34 | Tennessee | $46,720 |
| #48 | Alabama | $39,080 |
| #49 | West Virginia | $37,960 |
| #50 | Utah | $37,760 |
See the national dental assistant salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Dental Assistants (SOC 31-9091), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dental assistant make in Tennessee?
The median salary is $46,720 a year and the average is $49,670 (BLS May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for dental assistants?
Tennessee ranks #34 of 50 states for median pay in this job, 3% below the national median of $48,070.
What is $46,720 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $39,720 a year ($1,528 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
Your business here? Sponsor this calculator from $19/week. See placements
Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.