Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
In Tennessee, environmental engineering technologists and technicians earn $80,100 at the median, or about $38.51 an hour. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $89,218 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.7% 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 $80K get you in Tennessee?
About environmental engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for environmental engineering technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.5% 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. Combined with manageable housing costs, Tennessee offers a genuinely strong financial position for environmental engineering technologists and technicianss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level environmental engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $80K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $91K | +14% | 250 |
| Memphis | $76K | -5% | 30 |
| Chattanooga | $73K | -9% | 30 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $66K | -18% | 100 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $80K, rent takes 22.5% 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,680/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 45% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is environmental engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $80K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for environmental engineering technologists and technicians?
Tennessee pays $80K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental engineering technologists and technicians make in Tennessee?
The median is $80,100 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,670, and experienced environmental engineering technologists and technicians can clear $98,120. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $80K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,395/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental engineering technologists and technicians 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $89,218 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental engineering technologists and technicians 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.