What does a Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education earning $57,090 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $62,189 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) | $48,280 | $52,592 | +$4,312 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $49,590 | $54,019 | +$4,429 |
| Median (P50) | $57,090 | $62,189 | +$5,099 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $62,540 | $68,126 | +$5,586 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $67,370 | $73,387 | +$6,017 |
A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Tennessee earns $57,090 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $62,189 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #35 out of 51 states for Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education after cost-of-living adjustment.
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How much do you actually take home? See Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Tennessee earns a median salary of $57,090 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $62,189 — 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 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in Tennessee: $57,090 x (100 / 91.8) = $62,189. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education 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.