SOC 25-1123 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary — Tennessee
Tennessee · 5 metro areas compared
The median wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Tennessee is $64,220 per year, 18.5% below the national median of $78,760.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Tennessee is $64,220 per year, 18.5% below the national median of $78,760. Pay ranges from under $48,580 at the tenth percentile to more than $99,170 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $59,070 to $78,850.
The area has 1,150 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.4 of every thousand jobs. Among the 49 states with published data for this occupation, Tennessee ranks 37th by median wage. Memphis leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $77,400. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 254th of 730 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,580 | −38.3% |
| 25th | $59,070 | −25.0% |
| Median (50th) | $64,220 | −18.5% |
| 75th | $78,850 | +0.1% |
| 90th | $99,170 | +25.9% |
| Mean | $70,650 | −10.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis | $77,400 | 160 | |
| 2 | Nashville | $66,170 | 310 | |
| 3 | Knoxville | $64,220 | 230 | |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $59,830 | 110 | |
| 5 | Kingsport | $59,120 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $64,220 goes as far as $69,880 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 11.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$64,220as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$69,880US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $64,220 a year, 18.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,580 to $99,170 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,150 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 37th of 49 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Memphis, at $77,400.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $64,220, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $78,760, so pay in Tennessee is 18.5% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $99,170 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,580 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Memphis, at $77,400 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,150 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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