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What does a Waiters and Waitresses 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 Waiters and Waitresses earning $27,760 in Tennessee has the equivalent purchasing power of $30,239 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) | $15,080 | $16,427 | +$1,347 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $16,790 | $18,289 | +$1,499 |
| Median (P50) | $27,760 | $30,239 | +$2,479 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $37,380 | $40,718 | +$3,338 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $47,660 | $51,917 | +$4,257 |
A Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee earns $27,760 on paper, but low living costs mean your money goes 9% further — like earning $30,239 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 Waiters and Waitresses, every dollar earned effectively buys more here than in a 100-RPP state.
After applying Tennessee's RPP, the $27,760 median salary translates to $30,240 in real terms — a 8.9% gain. That difference can cover several months of expenses over a year for a Waiters and Waitresses.
Tennessee's rank of #38 of 51 states means real purchasing power for Waiters and Waitresses trails the national half-way line.
Where does Waiters and Waitresses salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Tennessee ranks #38 out of 51 states for Waiters and Waitresses after cost-of-living adjustment.
How much do you actually take home? See Waiters and Waitresses take-home pay in Tennessee after taxes →
A Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee earns a median salary of $27,760 per year. After adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (RPP=91.8), the real purchasing power is $30,239 — 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 Waiters and Waitresses in Tennessee: $27,760 x (100 / 91.8) = $30,239. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Waiters and Waitresses 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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