What does a Teaching Assistants, 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 Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary earning $30,000 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $32,679 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) | $16,240 | $17,690 | +$1,450 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $24,360 | $26,535 | +$2,175 |
| Median (P50) | $30,000 | $32,679 | +$2,679 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $38,920 | $42,396 | +$3,476 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $48,570 | $52,908 | +$4,338 |
A Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in Tennessee earns $30,000 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $32,679 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.
Where does Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #38 out of 48 states for Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in Tennessee earns a median salary of $30,000 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $32,679 — 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 Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary in Tennessee: $30,000 x (100 / 91.8) = $32,679. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Teaching Assistants, 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.