Arkansas vs Tennessee: Take-Home Pay (2026)
Same salary, two tax codes — computed for tax year 2026, single filer with standard deduction.
Quick answer
According to netpaytally.com's computations, a $75,000 salary keeps $2,712 more per year in Tennessee than in Arkansas ($61,593 vs $58,880, tax year 2026) — the entire gap comes from state tax, since federal and FICA are identical everywhere.
Arkansas climbs through 2 brackets on its way to a top rate of 3.9%, while Tennessee taxes wages at no income level. Each raise in Arkansas is taxed at a higher marginal step than the last, so the distance between the two states compounds: $1,737 a year at $50,000 becomes $9,537 at $250,000 — 5.5× wider. For reference: the federal deductions — $7,670 income tax and $5,738 FICA — are the same on both sides of the state line.
| Salary | Arkansas net | Tennessee net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,618 | $42,355 | $1,737 |
| $75,000 | $58,880 | $61,593 | $2,712 |
| $100,000 | $75,493 | $79,180 | $3,687 |
| $150,000 | $108,154 | $113,791 | $5,637 |
| $250,000 | $173,645 | $183,182 | $9,537 |
| Arkansas | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Graduated | No income tax |
| Top rate | 3.9% | — |
| State tax at $75,000 | $2,712 | $0 |
| Take-home rank | #30 of 51 | #6 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Arkansas or Tennessee?
At $75,000, Tennessee keeps $2,712 more per year than Arkansas ($61,593 vs $58,880, tax year 2026).
Why does Arkansas take more out of a paycheck than Tennessee?
The federal side is identical everywhere — the whole $2,712 difference at $75,000 is Arkansas's state income tax (a graduated scale reaching 3.9%), a tax Tennessee simply does not levy on wages.
Does the gap between Arkansas and Tennessee grow at higher salaries?
Yes, and faster than salary itself: $1,737 at $50,000 versus $9,537 at $250,000, because every extra dollar lands in a higher bracket in Arkansas while Tennessee stays at zero.
Which state ranks higher for take-home pay overall?
Arkansas ranks #30 of 51 and Tennessee ranks #6 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
Arkansas paycheck calculator · Tennessee paycheck calculator · All states ranked