Life Scientists, All Other Salary
Life Scientists, All Others in Tennessee make a median of $108,770 a year, or about $52.3 an hour. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $121K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $121,152 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 16.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. This is an aggregate across all of Tennessee. BLS does not publish metro-level data for this occupation in this state.
So what does $109K get you in Tennessee?
About life scientists, all others
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for life scientists, all other, local pay runs about 16% higher than the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 17.2% 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 life scientists, all others at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level life scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $121K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track life scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a life scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 17.2% 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 life scientists, all others in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new life scientists, all others typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,881/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 21% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is life scientists, all other a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay is 16% above the national median — $109K here vs. $94K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for life scientists, all others?
Tennessee pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $121K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do life scientists, all others make in Tennessee?
The median is $108,770 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,020, and experienced life scientists, all others can clear $121,330. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,076/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 17.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a life scientists, all other 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 life scientists, all other salary is worth about $121,152 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do life scientists, all others 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.