What does a Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary 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 Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary earning $61,780 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $67,298 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) | $37,950 | $41,339 | +$3,389 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $49,940 | $54,400 | +$4,460 |
| Median (P50) | $61,780 | $67,298 | +$5,518 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $80,970 | $88,202 | +$7,232 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $110,600 | $120,479 | +$9,879 |
A Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in Tennessee earns $61,780 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $67,298 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #37 out of 43 states for Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in Tennessee earns a median salary of $61,780 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $67,298 — 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 Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary in Tennessee: $61,780 x (100 / 91.8) = $67,298. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary 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.