Human Resources Managers Salary
In Tennessee, human resources managers earn $131,760 at the median, or about $63.35 an hour. The range runs from $85K at the entry level to $218K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $146,759 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 14.3% 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 $132K get you in Tennessee?
About human resources managers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for human resources managers in Tennessee runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $149K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 14.5% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for human resources managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level human resources managers (10th percentile) start around $85K. Mid-career wages sit at $132K. Top earners bring in $218K or more, a $133K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Managers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $139K | +5% | 760 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $135K | +3% | 1,840 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $133K | +1% | 150 |
| Knoxville | $132K | +0% | 530 |
| Chattanooga | $130K | -1% | 320 |
| Jackson | $115K | -12% | 70 |
| Johnson City | $113K | -14% | 70 |
| Morristown | $109K | -17% | 40 |
| Clarksville | $108K | -18% | 70 |
| Cleveland | $107K | -18% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a human resources manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $132K, rent takes 14.5% 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 human resources managers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources managers typically earn — is $85K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,110/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is human resources manager a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $132K here vs. $149K 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 human resources managers?
Tennessee pays $132K median vs. the U.S. average of $149K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $147K — below the national median.
How much do human resources managers make in Tennessee?
The median is $131,760 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,160, and experienced human resources managers can clear $218,300. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $132K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,401/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 14.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources managers 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 human resources managers salary is worth about $146,759 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources managers 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.