What does a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary really buy you in Tennessee?
Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-04-02
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers earning $51,600 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,209 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) | $37,400 | $40,740 | +$3,340 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $45,210 | $49,248 | +$4,038 |
| Median (P50) | $51,600 | $56,209 | +$4,609 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $64,010 | $69,727 | +$5,717 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $77,550 | $84,477 | +$6,927 |
A Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Tennessee earns $51,600 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $56,209 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #21 out of 51 states for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Tennessee earns a median salary of $51,600 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $56,209 — 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 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Tennessee: $51,600 x (100 / 91.8) = $56,209. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 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.