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What does a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels 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 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels earning $132,710 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $144,564 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) | $60,270 | $65,653 | +$5,383 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $76,420 | $83,246 | +$6,826 |
| Median (P50) | $132,710 | $144,564 | +$11,854 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $165,700 | $180,501 | +$14,801 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $215,470 | $234,716 | +$19,246 |
A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Tennessee earns $132,710 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $144,564 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 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $132,710 median salary translates to $144,564 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels, Tennessee places #1 of 38 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #1 out of 38 states for Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Tennessee earns a median salary of $132,710 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $144,564 — 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 Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels in Tennessee: $132,710 x (100 / 91.8) = $144,564. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels 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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