Economics Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
In Tennessee, economics teachers, postsecondaries earn $104,560 at the median. The range runs from $59K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $116,462 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 17.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $105K get you in Tennessee?
About economics teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for economics teachers, postsecondary in Tennessee runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $124K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 17.8% 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 economics teachers, postsecondarys who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level economics teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $59K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $114K spread from bottom to top.
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary salary by metro in Tennessee
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $163K | +56% | 30 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $129K | +24% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track economics 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 economics teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 17.8% 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 economics teachers, postsecondaries in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new economics teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $59K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,531/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 34% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is economics teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $105K here vs. $124K 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 economics teachers, postsecondaries?
Tennessee pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $124K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — below the national median.
How much do economics teachers, postsecondaries make in Tennessee?
The median is $104,560 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,850, and experienced economics teachers, postsecondaries can clear $172,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,829/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 17.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a economics 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 economics teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $116,462 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do economics 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.