Elementary Teacher salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An Elementary Teacher in Tennessee earns a median of $59,980 a year ($28.84/hour equivalent), 6.2% below the national median of $63,970. Tennessee ranks #38 of 51 states. About 28,240 people do this job in Tennessee.
Take-home pay in Tennessee
At the Tennessee median, a single filer keeps about $50,374 a year after federal, FICA and Tennessee taxes — $1,937 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $2,306.92
- Federal income tax
- −$192.98
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$143.03
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$33.45
- Tennessee income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,937.46
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $59,980
- Federal
- $5,018
- FICA
- $4,588
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $50,374
- 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 | Washington | $102,350 |
| #2 | California | $99,650 |
| #3 | District of Columbia | $96,580 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $94,000 |
| #5 | Rhode Island | $90,930 |
| #38 | Tennessee | $59,980 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $50,130 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $49,790 |
| #51 | Oklahoma | $48,200 |
See the national Elementary Teacher salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education (SOC 25-2021), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Elementary Teacher make in Tennessee?
The median salary is $59,980 a year and the average is $59,850 (BLS May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for elementary school teachers?
Tennessee ranks #38 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 6% below the national median of $63,970.
What is $59,980 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $50,374 a year ($1,937 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.