Social Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social workers, all other in Tennessee is $51,460/year ($24.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $112K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $57,318 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 34% 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 $51K get you in Tennessee?
About social workers, all others
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for social workers, all other in Tennessee runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $72K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 social workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $112K or more, a $80K spread from bottom to top.
Social Workers, All Other salary by metro in Tennessee
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | $100K | +95% | 110 |
| Johnson City | $88K | +72% | 120 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $59K | +14% | 620 |
| Memphis | $54K | +4% | 310 |
| Chattanooga | $54K | +4% | 150 |
| Knoxville | $39K | -25% | 260 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $37K | -28% | 80 |
| Jackson | $36K | -29% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track social 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 workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 33.6% 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 $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social workers, all others in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social workers, all others typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,915/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 63% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social workers, all other a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $51K here vs. $72K 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 workers, all others?
Tennessee pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $72K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do social workers, all others make in Tennessee?
The median is $51,460 a year, that works out to about $25 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,920, and experienced social workers, all others can clear $111,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,616/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 33.6% 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 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 workers, all other salary is worth about $57,318 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social 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.