Occupational Health and Safety Specialists Salary
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists in Tennessee make a median of $81,190 a year, or about $39.03 an hour. The range runs from $47K at the entry level to $119K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $90,432 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.3% 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 $81K get you in Tennessee?
About occupational health and safety specialists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Occupational health and safety specialists pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $81K locally vs. $90K nationwide, a 10% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 22.3% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level occupational health and safety specialists (10th percentile) start around $47K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $119K or more, a $72K spread from bottom to top.
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsport-Bristol | $84K | +3% | 160 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $83K | +3% | 810 |
| Memphis | $82K | +1% | 410 |
| Johnson City | $79K | -3% | 80 |
| Jackson | $78K | -3% | 70 |
| Knoxville | $78K | -4% | 470 |
| Morristown | $77K | -5% | 40 |
| Chattanooga | $74K | -8% | 230 |
| Clarksville | $74K | -8% | 140 |
| Cleveland | $70K | -13% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track occupational health and safety 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 occupational health and safety specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $81K, rent takes 22.3% 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 occupational health and safety specialists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new occupational health and safety specialists typically earn — is $47K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,825/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 occupational health and safety specialist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $81K locally vs. $90K nationally, a 10% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for occupational health and safety specialists?
Tennessee pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $90K — that’s -10%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do occupational health and safety specialists make in Tennessee?
The median is $81,190 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,080, and experienced occupational health and safety specialists can clear $119,250. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $81K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,459/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 22.3% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a occupational health and safety 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 occupational health and safety specialists salary is worth about $90,432 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do occupational health and safety 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.