What does a Chemists salary really buy you in Tennessee?
Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Chemists earning $65,340 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $71,176 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) | $43,540 | $47,429 | +$3,889 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $45,810 | $49,901 | +$4,091 |
| Median (P50) | $65,340 | $71,176 | +$5,836 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $94,390 | $102,821 | +$8,431 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $121,990 | $132,886 | +$10,896 |
A Chemists in Tennessee earns $65,340 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $71,176 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Chemists salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #46 out of 50 states for Chemists after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Chemists in Tennessee earns a median salary of $65,340 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $71,176 — 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 Chemists in Tennessee: $65,340 x (100 / 91.8) = $71,176. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Chemists 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.