North Carolina vs Tennessee Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,484 more a year in Tennessee than in North Carolina ($207 a month).
North Carolina
3.99% flat state income tax
$59,108
take-home on $75,000 · $4,926/month
22nd of 51 states for take-home pay
North Carolina paycheck calculator ›Tennessee
No state income tax on wages
$61,592
take-home on $75,000 · $5,133/month
1st of 51 states for take-home pay
Tennessee paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in North Carolina and Tennessee by salary
| Salary | North Carolina | Tennessee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $33,233 | $34,320 | $1,087 more in Tennessee |
| $50,000 | $40,869 | $42,355 | $1,486 more in Tennessee |
| $60,000 | $48,505 | $50,390 | $1,885 more in Tennessee |
| $75,000 | $59,108 | $61,592 | $2,484 more in Tennessee |
| $100,000 | $75,699 | $79,180 | $3,481 more in Tennessee |
| $125,000 | $92,224 | $96,703 | $4,479 more in Tennessee |
| $150,000 | $108,315 | $113,791 | $5,476 more in Tennessee |
| $200,000 | $141,456 | $148,927 | $7,471 more in Tennessee |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in North Carolina you would need about $71,450 in Tennessee; to match $75,000 in Tennessee you would need about $78,750 in North Carolina.
How North Carolina and Tennessee tax wages
| 2026 | North Carolina | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | a flat 3.99% income tax | no state income tax |
| Top rate | 3.99% | 0% |
| Standard deduction | $12,750 single | Not applicable |
| State tax on $75k | $2,484 (3.3%) | $0 (0.0%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | No |
| Reciprocity | None | None |
| 2026 change | North Carolina's flat rate fell to 3.99% for 2026; the budget signed in July 2026 sets 3.49% for 2027, with further scheduled cuts in later years. | No rate change |
Moving between North Carolina and Tennessee
Moving from North Carolina to Tennessee
Moving to Tennessee from Virginia raises take-home by $3,498 at $75,000, from Georgia by $2,994, and from Kentucky by $2,507. You will file a final part-year return in your old state but no Tennessee income tax return. The trade-off is sales tax: Tennessee's combined rates are among the highest in the country, and groceries are still taxed at a reduced state rate.
Moving from Tennessee to North Carolina
Moving to North Carolina from Virginia or Georgia raises take-home pay at $75,000, by $1,014 and $510. Coming from Tennessee or Florida costs $2,484 a year at that salary. The flat 3.99% rate and no local income taxes keep the math simple: give your employer an NC-4, and expect a part-year return for the year you arrive.
North Carolina paychecks in brief
North Carolina cut its flat income tax rate to 3.99% for 2026, applied after a $12,750 standard deduction for single filers. A single filer earning $75,000 owes $2,484 to the state and takes home $59,108 a year, or $2,273 every two weeks. There are no city or county income taxes, so the same rate applies whether you work in Charlotte, Raleigh, or a small mountain town. Read the North Carolina guide.
Tennessee paychecks in brief
Tennessee does not tax wages, and since the Hall tax on interest and dividends ended in 2021 it does not tax investment income either. A single filer earning $75,000 takes home $61,592, or $2,369 every two weeks, after only federal tax and FICA. That is $3,498 more than in Virginia and $2,507 more than in Kentucky. The state's constitution bars a tax on earned income, and the cost shows up instead in some of the highest combined sales tax rates in the country. Read the Tennessee guide.
North Carolina vs Tennessee: FAQ
Does North Carolina or Tennessee have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,484 more a year in Tennessee than in North Carolina ($207 a month). North Carolina has a flat 3.99% income tax for 2026. Tennessee has no state income tax.
What salary in Tennessee equals $75,000 in North Carolina?
To take home the same $59,108 that $75,000 leaves in North Carolina, you would need about $71,450 in Tennessee, based on income, payroll, and state taxes only. Housing and other living costs are not included.
How much more do high earners keep in Tennessee than in North Carolina?
At $150,000 the gap is $5,476 a year: $108,315 in North Carolina versus $113,791 in Tennessee. With flat or no state tax, the gap grows roughly in line with salary.