High School Teacher salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A High School Teacher in Tennessee earns a median of $61,860 a year ($29.74/hour equivalent), 14.1% below the national median of $72,040. Tennessee ranks #35 of 51 states. About 21,230 people do this job in Tennessee.
Take-home pay in Tennessee
At the Tennessee median, a single filer keeps about $51,885 a year after federal, FICA and Tennessee taxes — $1,996 every two weeks. Try your own numbers with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
- Gross pay
- $2,379.23
- Federal income tax
- −$201.66
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$147.51
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$34.50
- Tennessee income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $1,995.56
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $61,860
- Federal
- $5,243
- FICA
- $4,732
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $51,885
- 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 | $102,670 |
| #2 | California | $101,370 |
| #3 | New York | $97,070 |
| #4 | Massachusetts | $95,260 |
| #5 | Rhode Island | $92,610 |
| #35 | Tennessee | $61,860 |
| #49 | South Dakota | $51,050 |
| #50 | Mississippi | $50,980 |
| #51 | Oklahoma | $48,710 |
See the national High School Teacher salary page for the full pay range and all states.
BLS occupation: Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education (SOC 25-2031), May 2025, state estimates.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a High School Teacher make in Tennessee?
The median salary is $61,860 a year and the average is $62,950 (BLS May 2025).
Is Tennessee a good state for secondary school teachers?
Tennessee ranks #35 of 51 states for median pay in this job, 14% below the national median of $72,040.
What is $61,860 after taxes in Tennessee?
About $51,885 a year ($1,996 every two weeks) for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.