StateTally

Tennessee Unemployment Benefits Calculator

Use this tool to estimate your Tennessee unemployment benefits. Enter the wages from your two highest‑earning quarters and the calculator will apply the state formula, including the $30 minimum, $275 maximum, and the 26‑week benefit limit.

Reviewed 2026-08-27 · Estimates only — not legal or financial advice.

Before taxes.
Before taxes.
The law behind this calculator: Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development — Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-7-301; TDLWD.

How Tennessee calculates it

  • Take the wages from your highest‑earning quarter and your second‑highest quarter
  • Add those two quarterly wages together
  • Divide the sum by 52 (equivalent to averaging the two quarters and dividing by 26)
  • If the result is less than $30, the weekly benefit is set to $30
  • If the result is more than $275, the weekly benefit is capped at $275
  • Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks

Worked example

If your two highest quarters of earnings were $9,000 and $8,000, the calculation is ($9,000 + $8,000) ÷ 52 = $327, which is then reduced to the $275 maximum, resulting in a weekly benefit of $275 for up to 26 weeks, or $7,150 total if the full benefit period is drawn.

Frequently asked questions

How is the weekly benefit amount calculated in Tennessee?

It is the average of your two highest quarters divided by 26 (or the sum of the two quarters divided by 52), then adjusted to fall between the $30 minimum and $275 maximum.

What is the maximum weekly benefit in Tennessee?

The maximum weekly benefit is $275, a limit that has been frozen since 2006.

How long can I receive unemployment benefits in Tennessee?

Benefits are payable for up to 26 weeks.

Are Tennessee unemployment benefits subject to state income tax?

No, Tennessee does not tax unemployment benefits, though they remain taxable at the federal level.

What are the minimum and maximum weekly benefit amounts?

The weekly benefit cannot be less than $30 nor more than $275.

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