Natural Sciences Managers Salary
In Tennessee, natural sciences managers earn $124,530 at the median, or about $59.87 an hour. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $223K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $138,706 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 15.1% 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 $125K get you in Tennessee?
About natural sciences managers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for natural sciences managers in Tennessee runs about 26% below the U.S. median of $167K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 15.2% 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for natural sciences managerss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level natural sciences managers (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $125K. Top earners bring in $223K or more, a $157K spread from bottom to top.
Natural Sciences Managers salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $155K | +25% | 210 |
| Knoxville | $141K | +13% | 170 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $113K | -9% | 290 |
Compare to other states
Track natural sciences 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 natural sciences manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $125K, rent takes 15.2% 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 natural sciences managers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new natural sciences managers typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,977/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is natural sciences manager a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 26% below the national median — $125K here vs. $167K 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 natural sciences managers?
Tennessee pays $125K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s -26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $139K — below the national median.
How much do natural sciences managers make in Tennessee?
The median is $124,530 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $66,280, and experienced natural sciences managers can clear $223,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $125K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,989/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 15.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a natural sciences 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 natural sciences managers salary is worth about $138,706 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do natural sciences 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.