Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education Salary
In Tennessee, kindergarten teachers, except special educations earn $58,070 at the median. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $74K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $64,680 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 30.1% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $58K get you in Tennessee?
About kindergarten teachers, except special educations
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Kindergarten teachers, except special education pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level kindergarten teachers, except special educations (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $74K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $62K | +7% | 60 |
| Johnson City | $62K | +6% | 100 |
| Knoxville | $61K | +5% | 400 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $61K | +4% | 860 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $60K | +3% | 180 |
| Clarksville | $59K | +2% | 40 |
| Memphis | $57K | -2% | 300 |
| Jackson | $52K | -10% | 110 |
| Chattanooga | $52K | -11% | 290 |
Compare to other states
Track kindergarten teachers, except special education salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a kindergarten teachers, except special education afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 29.9% 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 kindergarten teachers, except special educations in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new kindergarten teachers, except special educations typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,819/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is kindergarten teachers, except special education a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for kindergarten teachers, except special educations?
Tennessee pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do kindergarten teachers, except special educations make in Tennessee?
The median is $58,070 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,980, and experienced kindergarten teachers, except special educations can clear $74,440. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,058/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 29.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a kindergarten teachers, except special education 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 kindergarten teachers, except special education salary is worth about $64,680 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do kindergarten teachers, except special educations 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.