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What does a Forensic Science Technicians 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 Forensic Science Technicians earning $70,500 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $76,797 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) | $47,730 | $51,993 | +$4,263 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $54,030 | $58,856 | +$4,826 |
| Median (P50) | $70,500 | $76,797 | +$6,297 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $95,940 | $104,509 | +$8,569 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $120,140 | $130,871 | +$10,731 |
A Forensic Science Technicians in Tennessee earns $70,500 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $76,797 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 Forensic Science Technicians, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $70,500 median salary translates to $76,797 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Forensic Science Technicians.
Tennessee sits at #12 of 41 states for Forensic Science Technicians COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.
Where does Forensic Science Technicians salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #12 out of 41 states for Forensic Science Technicians after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Forensic Science Technicians take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Forensic Science Technicians in Tennessee earns a median salary of $70,500 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $76,797 — 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 Forensic Science Technicians in Tennessee: $70,500 x (100 / 91.8) = $76,797. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Forensic Science 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.
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