What does a Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary really buy you in Tennessee?
Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-06
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Ophthalmic Medical Technicians earning $37,510 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $40,860 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) | $30,080 | $32,766 | +$2,686 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $34,320 | $37,385 | +$3,065 |
| Median (P50) | $37,510 | $40,860 | +$3,350 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $45,410 | $49,466 | +$4,056 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $50,390 | $54,891 | +$4,501 |
A Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Tennessee earns $37,510 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $40,860 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Ophthalmic Medical Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #35 out of 51 states for Ophthalmic Medical Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Ophthalmic Medical Technicians take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Tennessee earns a median salary of $37,510 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $40,860 — 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 Ophthalmic Medical Technicians in Tennessee: $37,510 x (100 / 91.8) = $40,860. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Ophthalmic Medical Technicians 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.