Tennessee vs West Virginia Taxes: Take-Home Pay Compared (2026)
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,546 more a year in Tennessee than in West Virginia ($212 a month).
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 ›West Virginia
2.11% - 4.58% state income tax
$59,046
take-home on $75,000 · $4,921/month
26th of 51 states for take-home pay
West Virginia paycheck calculator ›Take-home pay in Tennessee and West Virginia by salary
| Salary | Tennessee | West Virginia | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| $40,000 | $34,320 | $33,277 | $1,043 more in Tennessee |
| $50,000 | $42,355 | $40,911 | $1,444 more in Tennessee |
| $60,000 | $50,390 | $48,524 | $1,866 more in Tennessee |
| $75,000 | $61,592 | $59,046 | $2,546 more in Tennessee |
| $100,000 | $79,180 | $75,489 | $3,691 more in Tennessee |
| $125,000 | $96,703 | $91,867 | $4,836 more in Tennessee |
| $150,000 | $113,791 | $107,810 | $5,981 more in Tennessee |
| $200,000 | $148,927 | $140,656 | $8,271 more in Tennessee |
Single filer, standard deduction, no local tax. To match $75,000 in Tennessee you would need about $78,850 in West Virginia; to match $75,000 in West Virginia you would need about $71,400 in Tennessee.
How Tennessee and West Virginia tax wages
| 2026 | Tennessee | West Virginia |
|---|---|---|
| Income tax | no state income tax | 5 brackets from 2.11% to 4.58% |
| Top rate | 0% | 4.58% |
| Standard deduction | Not applicable | None (exemptions or credits only) |
| State tax on $75k | $0 (0.0%) | $2,546 (3.4%) |
| Local wage taxes | No | No |
| Reciprocity | None | Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia |
| 2026 change | No rate change | West Virginia cut every bracket rate for 2026 (SB 392), lowering the top rate from 4.82% to 4.58%. |
Moving between Tennessee and West Virginia
Moving from Tennessee to West Virginia
Moving to West Virginia from Virginia saves a $75,000 earner $952 a year in state tax, and from Maryland $651 before county tax. Coming from Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Kentucky costs a bit more at the state level but drops their local wage taxes. Give your employer Form WV/IT-104, check whether your work city charges a service fee, and file a part-year return in your old state.
Moving from West Virginia 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.
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.
West Virginia paychecks in brief
West Virginia taxes wages in five brackets from 2.11% to 4.58%, with a $2,000 personal exemption and no standard deduction. A single filer earning $75,000 owes $2,546 to the state and takes home $59,046, or $2,271 every two weeks. What sets West Virginia apart is reciprocity with every state on its border, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky, so commuters across those lines pay income tax only where they live. Read the West Virginia guide.
Tennessee vs West Virginia: FAQ
Does Tennessee or West Virginia have lower income taxes in 2026?
On a $75,000 salary, a single filer keeps $2,546 more a year in Tennessee than in West Virginia ($212 a month). Tennessee has no state income tax. West Virginia has 5 brackets from 2.11% to 4.58% for 2026. For single filers the top 4.58% rate starts at $60,000 of taxable income.
What salary in West Virginia equals $75,000 in Tennessee?
To take home the same $61,592 that $75,000 leaves in Tennessee, you would need about $78,850 in West Virginia, 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 West Virginia?
At $150,000 the gap is $5,981 a year: $113,791 in Tennessee versus $107,810 in West Virginia. Progressive brackets make the difference grow faster as income rises.