What does a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary really buy you in Tennessee?
Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earning $48,760 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $53,115 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) | $38,480 | $41,917 | +$3,437 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $44,990 | $49,008 | +$4,018 |
| Median (P50) | $48,760 | $53,115 | +$4,355 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $59,070 | $64,346 | +$5,276 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $72,660 | $79,150 | +$6,490 |
A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Tennessee earns $48,760 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $53,115 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #33 out of 49 states for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Tennessee earns a median salary of $48,760 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $53,115 — 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 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Tennessee: $48,760 x (100 / 91.8) = $53,115. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers 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.