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What does a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 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 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators earning $42,510 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $46,307 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) | $36,300 | $39,542 | +$3,242 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $37,770 | $41,143 | +$3,373 |
| Median (P50) | $42,510 | $46,307 | +$3,797 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $51,740 | $56,361 | +$4,621 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $60,300 | $65,686 | +$5,386 |
A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Tennessee earns $42,510 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $46,307 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 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $42,510 median salary translates to $46,307 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators.
Tennessee ranks #48 of 50 — bottom quartile for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators real purchasing power. Relocation, employer negotiation, or remote roles at higher-paying markets tend to generate the biggest ROI.
Where does Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #48 out of 50 states for Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Tennessee earns a median salary of $42,510 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $46,307 — 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 Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators in Tennessee: $42,510 x (100 / 91.8) = $46,307. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators 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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