Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
The median pay for a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in Tennessee is $85,020/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $94,698 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 21.3% 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 $85K get you in Tennessee?
About atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary in Tennessee runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $103K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 21.4% 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $77K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21.4% 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,015/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $85K here vs. $103K 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries?
Tennessee pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $95K — below the national median.
How much do atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries make in Tennessee?
The median is $85,020 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,250, and experienced atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondaries can clear $127,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,683/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 21.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences 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 atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $94,698 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences 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.