Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in Tennessee is $75,060/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $83,604 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 23.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $75K get you in Tennessee?
About area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary in Tennessee runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $85K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $82K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 23.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,268/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $75K here vs. $85K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries?
Tennessee pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $85K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $84K — below the national median.
How much do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries make in Tennessee?
The median is $75,060 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,460, and experienced area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries can clear $136,320. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,099/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 23.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $83,604 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondaries get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.