Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondaries in Tennessee make a median of $79,150 a year. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $88,160 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $79K actually covers in Tennessee, month by month
About chemistry teachers, postsecondaries
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondary in Tennessee runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $93K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.8% 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level chemistry teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $78K spread from bottom to top.
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $88K | +12% | 60 |
| Memphis | $76K | -4% | 50 |
| Chattanooga | $74K | -6% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Education
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a chemistry teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 22.8% 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondaries in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemistry teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,169/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 29% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is chemistry teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $79K here vs. $93K 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondaries?
Tennessee pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $93K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $88K — below the national median.
How much do chemistry teachers, postsecondaries make in Tennessee?
The median is $79,150 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,730, and experienced chemistry teachers, postsecondaries can clear $137,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,339/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemistry 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $88,160 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemistry 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.