Social and Human Service Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social and human service assistants in Tennessee is $40,310/year ($19.38/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $52K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $44,899 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 41.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $40K get you in Tennessee?
About social and human service assistants
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for social and human service assistants in Tennessee runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $46K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 42.3% 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 social and human service assistantss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level social and human service assistants (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $40K. Top earners bring in $52K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Social and Human Service Assistants salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $44K | +9% | 1,270 |
| Jackson | $41K | +1% | 150 |
| Memphis | $41K | +1% | 980 |
| Chattanooga | $40K | -2% | 400 |
| Cleveland | $38K | -5% | 40 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $37K | -7% | 270 |
| Knoxville | $37K | -8% | 560 |
| Clarksville | $37K | -8% | 200 |
| Johnson City | $36K | -10% | 180 |
| Morristown | $36K | -11% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track social and human service assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social and human service assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $40K, rent takes 42.3% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social and human service assistants in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social and human service assistants typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,817/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social and human service assistant a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $40K here vs. $46K 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 social and human service assistants?
Tennessee pays $40K median vs. the U.S. average of $46K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $45K — below the national median.
How much do social and human service assistants make in Tennessee?
The median is $40,310 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $30,280, and experienced social and human service assistants can clear $52,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $40K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,869/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 42.3% 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 social and human service assistants 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 social and human service assistants salary is worth about $44,899 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social and human service assistants 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.