Travel Agents Salary
In Tennessee, travel agents earn $55,640 at the median, or about $26.75 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $69K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $61,974 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 31.4% 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 $56K get you in Tennessee?
About travel agents
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Tennessee sits well above the national pay line for travel agents, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $50K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% 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 travel agents (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $56K. Top earners bring in $69K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Travel Agents salary by metro in Tennessee
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $60K | +8% | 260 |
| Knoxville | $46K | -17% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track travel agents salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Sales
Frequently asked questions
Can a travel agent afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $56K, rent takes 31.2% 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 $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for travel agents in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new travel agents typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,544/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is travel agent a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $56K here vs. $50K nationally.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for travel agents?
Tennessee pays $56K median vs. the U.S. average of $50K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $62K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do travel agents make in Tennessee?
The median is $55,640 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,400, and experienced travel agents can clear $69,180. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $56K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,895/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 31.2% 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 travel agents 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 travel agents salary is worth about $61,974 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do travel agents 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.