Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social scientists and related workers, all other in Tennessee is $80,860/year ($38.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $130K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $90,065 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 22.4% 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 $81K get you in Tennessee?
About social scientists and related workers, all others
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for social scientists and related workers, all other in Tennessee runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $101K. 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for social scientists and related workers, all others who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level social scientists and related workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $81K. Top earners bring in $130K or more, a $76K spread from bottom to top.
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other salary by metro in Tennessee
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $97K | +19% | 50 |
| Knoxville | $89K | +10% | 40 |
| Clarksville | $84K | +4% | 70 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $81K | +0% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track social scientists and related workers, all other 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 scientists and related workers, all other 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 social scientists and related workers, all others in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social scientists and related workers, all others typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,212/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 38% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social scientists and related workers, all other a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $81K here vs. $101K 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 scientists and related workers, all others?
Tennessee pays $81K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $90K — below the national median.
How much do social scientists and related workers, all others make in Tennessee?
The median is $80,860 a year, that works out to about $39 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,530, and experienced social scientists and related workers, all others can clear $129,960. 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 $5,439/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 social scientists and related workers, all other 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 scientists and related workers, all other salary is worth about $90,065 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social scientists and related workers, all others 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.