Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Tennessee is $165,010/year ($79.33/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $89K at the entry level to $240K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $183,794 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 11.4% 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 $165K get you in Tennessee?
About physicists
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Physicists pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $165K locally vs. $172K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 11.8% 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 physicists (10th percentile) start around $89K. Mid-career wages sit at $165K. Top earners bring in $240K or more, a $151K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists salary by metro in Tennessee
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $237K | +44% | N/A |
| Knoxville | $165K | +0% | 120 |
| Memphis | $140K | -15% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $165K, rent takes 11.8% 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 physicists in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $89K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,317/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $165K locally vs. $172K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for physicists?
Tennessee pays $165K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $184K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physicists make in Tennessee?
The median is $165,010 a year, that works out to about $79 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $88,610, and experienced physicists can clear $239,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $165K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,295/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 11.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physicists 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 physicists salary is worth about $183,794 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physicists 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.