Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health Salary
In Tennessee, environmental scientists and specialists, including healths earn $76,840 at the median, or about $36.94 an hour. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $133K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $85,587 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.8% 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 $77K get you in Tennessee?
About environmental scientists and specialists, including healths
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $77K locally vs. $82K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.3% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level environmental scientists and specialists, including healths (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $77K. Top earners bring in $133K or more, a $79K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health salary by metro in Tennessee
7 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $78K | +2% | 130 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $78K | +1% | 530 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $77K | +0% | 90 |
| Chattanooga | $77K | +0% | 90 |
| Knoxville | $75K | -2% | 250 |
| Johnson City | $75K | -2% | 50 |
| Jackson | $68K | -11% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track environmental scientists and specialists, including health salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental scientists and specialists, including health afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $77K, rent takes 23.3% 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 scientists and specialists, including healths in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental scientists and specialists, including healths typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,242/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 environmental scientists and specialists, including health a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $77K locally vs. $82K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for environmental scientists and specialists, including healths?
Tennessee pays $77K median vs. the U.S. average of $82K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $86K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths make in Tennessee?
The median is $76,840 a year, that works out to about $37 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,040, and experienced environmental scientists and specialists, including healths can clear $133,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $77K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,204/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 23.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental scientists and specialists, including health 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 scientists and specialists, including health salary is worth about $85,587 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental scientists and specialists, including healths 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.