Maine 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 $3,881 more per year in Tennessee than in Maine ($61,593 vs $57,712, tax year 2026) — the entire gap comes from state tax, since federal and FICA are identical everywhere.
Maine climbs through 3 brackets on its way to a top rate of 7.15%, while Tennessee taxes wages at no income level. Each raise in Maine is taxed at a higher marginal step than the last, so the distance between the two states compounds: $2,193 a year at $50,000 becomes $16,379 at $250,000 — 7.5× 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 | Maine net | Tennessee net | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 | $40,162 | $42,355 | $2,193 |
| $75,000 | $57,712 | $61,593 | $3,881 |
| $100,000 | $73,526 | $79,180 | $5,654 |
| $150,000 | $104,562 | $113,791 | $9,229 |
| $250,000 | $166,803 | $183,182 | $16,379 |
| Maine | Tennessee | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax type | Graduated | No income tax |
| Top rate | 7.15% | — |
| State tax at $75,000 | $3,881 | $0 |
| Take-home rank | #49 of 51 | #6 of 51 |
Which state has better take-home pay, Maine or Tennessee?
At $75,000, Tennessee keeps $3,881 more per year than Maine ($61,593 vs $57,712, tax year 2026).
Why does Maine take more out of a paycheck than Tennessee?
The federal side is identical everywhere — the whole $3,881 difference at $75,000 is Maine's state income tax (a graduated scale reaching 7.15%), a tax Tennessee simply does not levy on wages.
Does the gap between Maine and Tennessee grow at higher salaries?
Yes, and faster than salary itself: $2,193 at $50,000 versus $16,379 at $250,000, because every extra dollar lands in a higher bracket in Maine while Tennessee stays at zero.
Which state ranks higher for take-home pay overall?
Maine ranks #49 of 51 and Tennessee ranks #6 of 51 nationally for take-home pay at $75,000.
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