Average and median wage in Tennessee
Half of the 3,278,760 workers in Tennessee earn less than $47,380 a year, the median wage, while the average pay is $60,800, or $29.23 an hour. The lowest-paid 10% make $28,600 or less and the top 10% $103,130 or more. The average is 13% less than the U.S. average ($69,770) and the median 7% less than the U.S. median ($50,980).
- $29K10th
- $36K25th
- $47KMedian
- $71K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Tennessee per year | Per hour* | U.S. per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $60,800 | $29.23 | $69,770 |
| Median | $47,380 | $22.78 | $50,980 |
| 10th percentile | $28,600 | $13.75 | $31,200 |
| 25th percentile | $35,830 | $17.23 | $37,590 |
| 75th percentile | $71,050 | $34.16 | $80,520 |
| 90th percentile | $103,130 | $49.58 | $128,560 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Statewide figures include every employer in the state, metro and rural. Median vs. average salary · reading percentiles.
Average salary by city in Tennessee
- Nashville$66,390
- Memphis$60,240
- Knoxville$59,890
- Chattanooga$58,680
- Kingsport$56,140
- Johnson City$54,750
- Clarksville$53,330
- Jackson$53,290
- Morristown$51,480
- Cleveland$50,670
Map of Tennessee metro areas
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Salary, take-home pay and cost of living by city
| City | Average | Median | Take-home* | Cost of living | Home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $66,390 | $50,390 | $55,470 | 96 | $455,958 |
| Memphis | $60,240 | $46,890 | $50,583 | 92 | $247,229 |
| Knoxville | $59,890 | $47,080 | $50,302 | 93 | $367,158 |
| Chattanooga | $58,680 | $46,700 | $49,330 | 91 | $326,370 |
| Kingsport | $56,140 | $45,240 | $47,288 | 86 | $246,242 |
| Johnson City | $54,750 | $43,480 | $46,171 | 88 | $282,532 |
| Clarksville | $53,330 | $44,860 | $45,031 | 91 | $292,990 |
| Jackson | $53,290 | $44,790 | $44,999 | 86 | $208,153 |
| Morristown | $51,480 | $44,280 | $43,544 | 86 | $301,029 |
| Cleveland | $50,670 | $40,230 | $42,893 | 88 | $312,380 |
*Average salary after federal and state income tax and payroll taxes for a single filer. Cost of living: BEA price parity, U.S. = 100.
Highest-paying jobs in Tennessee
- Cardiologists · Chattanooga$508,870
- Neurologists · Memphis$439,130
- Physicians, All Other · Chattanooga$431,890
- Family Medicine Physicians · Knoxville$383,670
- Physicians, All Other · Memphis$379,900
- Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric · Memphis$370,050
- General Internal Medicine Physicians · Knoxville$366,110
- Family Medicine Physicians · Memphis$344,940
- Family Medicine Physicians · Kingsport$335,340
- Anesthesiologists · Nashville$317,080
Most common jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Jobs statewide | Average | Median | Highest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 105,870 | $40,020 | $38,160 | $42,050 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 90,690 | $27,870 | $27,470 | $29,430 |
| Retail Salespersons | 87,380 | $35,010 | $31,950 | $36,600 |
| Registered Nurses | 72,200 | $85,390 | $81,500 | $92,350 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 64,890 | $60,440 | $58,620 | $66,500 |
| General and Operations Managers | 63,720 | $132,520 | $106,970 | $141,450 |
| Cashiers | 63,350 | $28,690 | $28,590 | $30,960 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 60,130 | $37,500 | $36,140 | $39,360 |
| Customer Service Representatives | 59,730 | $44,300 | $42,830 | $46,830 |
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 58,760 | $48,410 | $44,630 | $57,320 |
Jobs, average and median: BLS statewide estimates. Highest city average: best-paid metro area we cover in the state.
Average salary by job family in Tennessee
Tennessee income tax and take-home pay
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, so take-home pay only loses federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare.
Tennessee at a glance
Average salary in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Salary in Tennessee: questions
What is the average salary in Tennessee?
$60,800 a year across all jobs, according to BLS statewide estimates (OEWS, May 2025). That is 13% less than the U.S. average ($69,770).
What is the median salary in Tennessee?
$47,380 a year: half of Tennessee workers earn more and half earn less. The median is lower than the average because a minority of high earners lifts the average.
What is the average hourly wage in Tennessee?
$29.23 an hour on average, and $22.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
Which city in Tennessee pays the most?
Nashville, with an average of $66,390 a year among the metro areas we cover.
Is Tennessee expensive to live in?
BEA puts Tennessee prices 8% below the U.S. average (price parity 91.9). Within the state, Nashville 96, Knoxville 93, Memphis 92 are the most expensive metros.
Sources and how to read this page
- Statewide figures: BLS OEWS state estimates, May 2025, all occupations and every employer in the state (metro and rural areas).
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. City figures: the metro areas we cover in Tennessee.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Population and median household income: Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2023.
- Crime: FBI Crime Data Explorer, violent and property crimes reported by agencies statewide, latest 12 months available.
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