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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 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 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers earning $46,500 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $50,653 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) | $38,320 | $41,742 | +$3,422 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $42,780 | $46,601 | +$3,821 |
| Median (P50) | $46,500 | $50,653 | +$4,153 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $55,310 | $60,250 | +$4,940 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $68,430 | $74,542 | +$6,112 |
A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Tennessee earns $46,500 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $50,653 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 Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $46,500 median salary translates to $50,654 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers.
Tennessee's rank of #38 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers trails the national half-way line.
Where does Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #38 out of 51 states for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers in Tennessee earns a median salary of $46,500 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $50,653 — 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: $46,500 x (100 / 91.8) = $50,653. 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.
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