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What does a Air Traffic Controllers salary really buy you in Tennessee?
Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Air Traffic Controllers earning $157,330 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $171,383 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $98,300 | $107,080 | +$8,780 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $120,000 | $130,718 | +$10,718 |
| Median (P50) | $157,330 | $171,383 | +$14,053 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $178,630 | $194,586 | +$15,956 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $198,790 | $216,546 | +$17,756 |
A Air Traffic Controllers in Tennessee earns $157,330 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $171,383 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) of 91.8 means a basket of goods and services costs about 8.2% less than the national average. For a Air Traffic Controllers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $157,330 median salary translates to $171,383 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Air Traffic Controllers.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Air Traffic Controllers, Tennessee places #9 of 43 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Air Traffic Controllers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #9 out of 43 states for Air Traffic Controllers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Air Traffic Controllers take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Air Traffic Controllers in Tennessee earns a median salary of $157,330 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $171,383 — a +8.9% difference.
Tennessee's cost of living is 8.2% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Tennessee is 91.8 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Air Traffic Controllers in Tennessee: $157,330 x (100 / 91.8) = $171,383. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Air Traffic Controllers in Tennessee enjoys 8.9% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.
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