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What does a Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health 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 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health earning $56,960 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $62,047 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) | $44,920 | $48,932 | +$4,012 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $47,190 | $51,405 | +$4,215 |
| Median (P50) | $56,960 | $62,047 | +$5,087 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,140 | $67,690 | +$5,550 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $74,790 | $81,470 | +$6,680 |
A Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Tennessee earns $56,960 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $62,047 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 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $56,960 median salary translates to $62,048 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health.
Ranked on COL-adjusted median pay for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health, Tennessee places #9 of 49 states — top quartile. Either nominal wages run high, cost of living runs low, or both.
Where does Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #9 out of 49 states for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Tennessee earns a median salary of $56,960 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $62,047 — 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 Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health in Tennessee: $56,960 x (100 / 91.8) = $62,047. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health 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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