Motion Picture Projectionists Salary
The median pay for a motion picture projectionists in Tennessee is $22,750/year ($10.94/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $19K at the entry level to $40K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $25,340 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 71.7% of take-home, which is tight.
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 $23K get you in Tennessee?
About motion picture projectionists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for motion picture projectionists in Tennessee runs about 41% below the U.S. median of $38K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 72.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for motion picture projectionistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level motion picture projectionists (10th percentile) start around $19K. Mid-career wages sit at $23K. Top earners bring in $40K or more, a $21K spread from bottom to top.
Compare to other states
Track motion picture projectionists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a motion picture projectionist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $23K, rent takes 72.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $500/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for motion picture projectionists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new motion picture projectionists typically earn — is $19K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,112/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 109% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is motion picture projectionist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 41% below the national median — $23K here vs. $38K 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 motion picture projectionists?
Tennessee pays $23K median vs. the U.S. average of $38K — that’s -41%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $25K — below the national median.
How much do motion picture projectionists make in Tennessee?
The median is $22,750 a year, that works out to about $11 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $18,540, and experienced motion picture projectionists can clear $39,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $23K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,686/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 72.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a motion picture projectionists 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 motion picture projectionists salary is worth about $25,340 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do motion picture projectionists 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.