What does a Music Directors and Composers 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 Music Directors and Composers earning $72,010 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $78,442 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) | $45,480 | $49,542 | +$4,062 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $49,100 | $53,485 | +$4,385 |
| Median (P50) | $72,010 | $78,442 | +$6,432 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $97,690 | $106,416 | +$8,726 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $109,290 | $119,052 | +$9,762 |
A Music Directors and Composers in Tennessee earns $72,010 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $78,442 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Music Directors and Composers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #4 out of 35 states for Music Directors and Composers after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
How much do you actually take home? See Music Directors and Composers take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Music Directors and Composers in Tennessee earns a median salary of $72,010 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $78,442 — 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 Music Directors and Composers in Tennessee: $72,010 x (100 / 91.8) = $78,442. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Music Directors and Composers 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.