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Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Tennessee: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary really buy you in Tennessee?

Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$44,030
Median annual (2025)
+8.9%
Real Purchasing Power
$47,962
COL-adjusted (RPP=91.8)

Tennessee Cost of Living Index

Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earning $44,030 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $47,962 in an average-cost US state.

TN: 91.8
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $35,210 $38,355 +$3,145
25th Percentile (P25) $37,630 $40,991 +$3,361
Median (P50) $44,030 $47,962 +$3,932
75th Percentile (P75) $46,270 $50,403 +$4,133
90th Percentile (P90) $50,000 $54,466 +$4,466
Key Insight

A Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee earns $44,030 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $47,962 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Tennessee Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 91.8

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 Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+8.9%

After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $44,030 median salary translates to $47,963 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#23 / 47

Tennessee sits at #23 of 47 states for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (After Cost of Living)

Where does Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$59,631
RPP 97.7
2. Montana
$57,076
RPP 90.3
3. Iowa
$56,108
RPP 88.4
$55,905
RPP 91.1
$54,642
RPP 86.6
$53,892
RPP 89.4
$53,786
RPP 89.8
$53,528
RPP 88.7
9. Ohio
$52,896
RPP 91.5
10. Wisconsin
$52,047
RPP 92.3

Tennessee ranks #23 out of 47 states for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee after cost of living?

A Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee earns a median salary of $44,030 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $47,962 — a +8.9% difference.

Is Tennessee expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee: $44,030 x (100 / 91.8) = $47,962. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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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