Human Resources Specialists Salary
In Tennessee, human resources specialists earn $67,370 at the median, or about $32.39 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $110K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $75,039 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 26% 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 $67K get you in Tennessee?
About human resources specialists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for human resources specialists in Tennessee runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 human resources specialists (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $67K. Top earners bring in $110K or more, a $64K spread from bottom to top.
Human Resources Specialists salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $69K | +3% | 3,650 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $67K | +0% | 8,210 |
| Knoxville | $67K | +0% | 2,980 |
| Clarksville | $66K | -3% | 540 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $65K | -4% | 530 |
| Jackson | $63K | -6% | 370 |
| Johnson City | $62K | -8% | 360 |
| Chattanooga | $62K | -8% | 1,550 |
| Cleveland | $61K | -10% | 200 |
| Morristown | $60K | -11% | 190 |
Compare to other states
Track human resources specialists 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 specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $67K, rent takes 26.1% 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 specialists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new human resources specialists typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,738/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 44% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is human resources specialist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $67K here vs. $76K 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 specialists?
Tennessee pays $67K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $75K — below the national median.
How much do human resources specialists make in Tennessee?
The median is $67,370 a year, that works out to about $32 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $45,630, and experienced human resources specialists can clear $109,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $67K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,648/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 26.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a human resources specialists 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 specialists salary is worth about $75,039 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do human resources specialists 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.