2026 State Take-Home Comparison
Illinois vs Tennessee Take-Home Pay (2026)
Moving from Illinois to Tennessee: paycheck difference after taxes
On a $75,000 salary, moving from Illinois to Tennessee means earning $3,713 more per year after taxes — about $143 more per biweekly paycheck. Federal income tax and FICA stay the same; the difference comes from state tax.
What changes: State income tax. What stays the same: Federal income tax and FICA (Social Security + Medicare) are the same in every state for the same salary and filing status. Estimates based on $75,000 salary, single, biweekly. Use the calculator below for your numbers.
Illinois vs Tennessee — Take-Home Pay Overview
Illinois uses a flat state income tax, while Tennessee has no state income tax on wage income.
For workers comparing the two states, that means Tennessee generally leaves more paycheck income after withholding than Illinois under the same salary assumptions.
| Salary | Illinois Take-Home | Tennessee Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $39,880 | $42,355 |
| $75,000 | $57,880 | $61,593 |
| $100,000 | $74,230 | $79,180 |
On a $100,000 salary, you take home $4,950 more per year in Tennessee than in Illinois.
$100,000 Salary: Illinois vs Tennessee
| Tax / Component | Illinois | Tennessee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | $13,170 | $13,170 | same |
| State Income Tax | $4,950 | $0 | +$4,950 |
| Social Security | $6,200 | $6,200 | same |
| Medicare | $1,450 | $1,450 | same |
| Take-Home Pay | $74,230 | $79,180 | -$4,950 |
$100,000 — Rent affordability: Illinois vs Tennessee
| Metric | Illinois | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Net take-home / year | $74,230 | $79,180 |
| Net take-home / month | $6,186 | $6,598 |
| Median 1BR rent (HUD) | $750 | $750 |
| Rent as % of take-home | 12.1% ✓ | 11.4% ✓ |
Rent: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2025 · Spending: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2023
$75,000 Salary: Illinois vs Tennessee
| Tax / Component | Illinois | Tennessee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Income Tax | $7,670 | $7,670 | same |
| State Income Tax | $3,713 | $0 | +$3,713 |
| Social Security | $4,650 | $4,650 | same |
| Medicare | $1,088 | $1,088 | same |
| Take-Home Pay | $57,880 | $61,593 | -$3,713 |
Take-Home Pay Comparison: Illinois vs Tennessee
For a single filer at $100,000, Tennessee puts $4,950 more per year in your pocket than Illinois — $413 per month.
| Annual Salary | Illinois | Tennessee | Annual Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $39,880 | $42,355 | $-2,475 (Illinois) |
| $75,000 | $57,880 | $61,592.5 | $-3,712.5 (Illinois) |
| $100,000 | $74,230 | $79,180 | $-4,950 (Illinois) |
| $125,000 | $90,516 | $96,703.5 | $-6,187.5 (Illinois) |
| $150,000 | $106,366 | $113,791 | $-7,425 (Illinois) |
After subtracting median 1-bedroom rent, Tennessee residents keep $65,380 per year vs $58,630 in Illinois. See full cost-adjusted ranking →
Calculate your exact Illinois vs Tennessee take-home →Calculation assumptions
- Standard withholding per IRS Publication 15-T (2026)
- Social Security wage base: $184,500 (SSA 2026)
- No pre-tax deductions, no post-tax deductions
- Filing status: Single, one job
- Standard W-4 withholding (no additional withholding elections)
- Actual paycheck may differ based on employer setup, benefits, or W-4 elections
Illinois vs Tennessee tax questions
Which state has lower taxes, Illinois or Tennessee?
Tennessee has no state income tax while Illinois has state income tax. On the default $75,000 single-filer estimate, Tennessee has $3,713 less state income tax, while federal taxes and FICA apply in both states.
How much more do I take home in Illinois vs Tennessee on a $75,000 salary?
For the $75,000 engine-backed comparison on this page, Tennessee leaves $3,713 more annual take-home pay, or about $309 per month.
Does moving from Illinois to Tennessee save money on taxes?
Moving from Illinois to Tennessee could reduce state income tax because Tennessee has no state income tax. In the default $75,000 comparison, the annual take-home gap is $3,713 ($309 per month), before cost-of-living differences.
Is Illinois or Tennessee better for take-home pay?
For the default $75,000 single-filer calculation, Tennessee has the higher take-home pay by $3,713 per year. Cost of living can still change which state is better for your household budget.
Calculate your take-home pay in each state:
Calculate your exact take-home pay
- Use the Illinois paycheck calculator →
- Use the Tennessee paycheck calculator →
- Compare custom salaries interactively →
- Compare full job offers with cost-of-living adjustment