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Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary in Tennessee: Cost of Living Adjusted (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

What does a Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary really buy you in Tennessee?

Tennessee is 8.2% cheaper than the US average

Data: BLS OEWS 2025 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-05-19

Nominal Salary
$36,710
Median annual (2025)
+8.9%
Real Purchasing Power
$39,989
COL-adjusted (RPP=91.8)

Tennessee Cost of Living Index

Tennessee's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 91.8, meaning prices are 8.2% lower the national average. A Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders earning $36,710 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $39,989 in an average-cost US state.

TN: 91.8
Cheapest (~85) US Avg (100) Priciest (~115)

Salary Breakdown: Nominal vs. COL-Adjusted

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) $20,600 $22,440 +$1,840
25th Percentile (P25) $30,600 $33,333 +$2,733
Median (P50) $36,710 $39,989 +$3,279
75th Percentile (P75) $40,130 $43,714 +$3,584
90th Percentile (P90) $45,870 $49,967 +$4,097
Key Insight

A Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee earns $36,710 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $39,989 in an average-cost state. This makes Tennessee one of the best value states for this occupation.

What the Cost-of-Living Data Says

Tennessee Runs Well Below National Cost

RPP 91.8

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 Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.

Meaningful Purchasing-Power Shift

+8.9%

After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $36,710 median salary translates to $39,989 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders.

Above-Median Adjusted Pay

#16 / 37

Tennessee sits at #16 of 37 states for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders COL-adjusted salary — comfortably above the national midpoint.

Best States for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders (After Cost of Living)

Where does Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.

$46,135
RPP 94.2
2. Indiana
$45,468
RPP 91.8
3. Ohio
$45,464
RPP 91.5
$44,594
RPP 93.6
$44,323
RPP 106.4
$43,503
RPP 107.6
$43,069
RPP 87.3
$42,936
RPP 92.3
$42,685
RPP 107.6
10. Minnesota
$42,456
RPP 97.7

Tennessee ranks #16 out of 37 states for Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders after cost-of-living adjustment.

How much do you actually take home? See Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the real salary for a Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee after cost of living?

A Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee earns a median salary of $36,710 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $39,989 — a +8.9% difference.

Is Tennessee expensive to live in?

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).

What are Regional Price Parities (RPP)?

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.

How is the cost-of-living adjusted salary calculated?

The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee: $36,710 x (100 / 91.8) = $39,989. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.

Is it better to be a Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders in Tennessee financially?

From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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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