What does a Commercial Pilots 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 Commercial Pilots earning $119,330 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $129,989 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) | $66,590 | $72,538 | +$5,948 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $87,560 | $95,381 | +$7,821 |
| Median (P50) | $119,330 | $129,989 | +$10,659 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $172,930 | $188,376 | +$15,446 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $203,660 | $221,851 | +$18,191 |
A Commercial Pilots in Tennessee earns $119,330 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $129,989 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Commercial Pilots salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #14 out of 49 states for Commercial Pilots after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Commercial Pilots in Tennessee earns a median salary of $119,330 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $129,989 — 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 Commercial Pilots in Tennessee: $119,330 x (100 / 91.8) = $129,989. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Commercial Pilots 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.