verified BLS-Verified Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) May 2025 release

High School Teacher Salary in Tennessee

Median Annual in Tennessee
$61,860/yr
Median Hourly Wage
/hr
▼ 14% below U.S. median

Salary Distribution in Tennessee

groups Employed in TN
21,230
public U.S. Median
$72,040
savings Real pay (cost-adjusted)
$67,334 #34 of 51

High School Teacher pay in Tennessee, explained

High school teachers in Tennessee earn a median of $61,860 per year (— per hour), which is 14% below the national median of $72,040. Entry-level workers earn around $49,050, while the most experienced high school teachers reach about $79,180. Pay varies by employer, setting, and metro area within Tennessee.

Is $61,860 good pay in Tennessee?

Adjusted for Tennessee's cost of living (which runs 92% of the U.S. average), that $61,860 is worth about $67,334 in national buying power — ranking Tennessee #34 for real pay (vs #35 on the sticker number).

See the full High School Teacher Real Pay Index arrow_forward

High School Teacher pay by experience in Tennessee

Entry level (10th pct)
$49,050
$23.58/hr
Median
Mid-career (50th pct)
$61,860
—/hr
Experienced (90th pct)
$79,180
$38.07/hr

High School Teacher pay in neighboring states

StateMedian / yrReal payvs TN
Tennessee (here) $61,860 $67,334
Georgia $75,480 $78,386 −$13,620
Virginia $72,170 $71,382 −$10,310
Alabama $61,990 $69,790 −$130
Kentucky $61,560 $68,279 +$300
Arkansas $59,660 $68,624 +$2,200
Missouri $59,240 $65,230 +$2,620
North Carolina $57,650 $61,118 +$4,210
Mississippi $50,980 $58,629 +$10,880

High School Teacher in Tennessee: FAQ

How much do high school teachers make in Tennessee?

High school teachers in Tennessee earn a median of $61,860 per year (— per hour), compared with $72,040 nationally.

Does Tennessee pay high school teachers well?

At $61,860, Tennessee pays 14% below the national median for high school teachers. An estimated 21,230 work in the state.

High School Teacher salary in other states

All 51 states ranked arrow_forward

Related careers in Tennessee