SalariesByCity
BLS SOC 25-1099 · Tennessee · Updated 2026

College Professor Salary in Nashville, TN

College Professors in Nashville, TN earn a median of $65,000/year, ranging from $50,050 (25th percentile) to $104,000 (90th percentile). After Tennessee state taxes (0%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 110), this is equivalent to $59,091 in purchasing power vs the US average.

Median Annual
$65,000
BLS median
Entry Level (P25)
$50,050
25th percentile
Senior (P75)
$83,200
75th percentile
Top Earners (P90)
$104,000
90th percentile

1Salary Distribution in Nashville, TN

P25
P75
P25
$50,050
Median
$65,000
P75
$83,200
P90
$104,000

2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power

Gross Median Salary
$65,000
Before taxes
Est. Take-Home (After Tax)
$60,060
After 0% state + ~7.6% FICA
COL-Adjusted Purchasing Power
$54,600
vs US average (COL index: 110)

* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.

3

How Does Nashville, TN Compare?

Nearby and similar metro areas
CityMedianCOL IndexCOL-Adjusted
Nashville, TN (current)$65,000110$59,091
Memphis, TN$52,00083$62,651
San Francisco, CA$96,000186$51,613
New York, NY$92,000187$49,198
Seattle, WA$94,000162$58,025
Boston, MA$85,000162$52,469

4Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average College Professor salary in Nashville, TN?

The median College Professor salary in Nashville, TN is $65,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $50,050 and the 90th percentile is $104,000.

Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a College Professor?

Nashville, TN has a cost of living index of 110 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $65,000 College Professor salary in Nashville, TN is equivalent to $59,091 in purchasing power compared to the US average.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Nashville, TN?

Nashville, TN has a cost of living index of 110, meaning it is 10% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Tennessee is approximately 0%.

What is the College Professor salary range in Nashville, TN?

In Nashville, TN, College Professors earn between $50,050 (25th percentile) and $104,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $65,000 per year.

How many College Professor jobs are there in Nashville, TN?

According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 27,000 College Professor positions in the Nashville, TN metropolitan area.

What do College Professors earn in Nashville, TN?

Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, College Professors in Nashville, TN earn a median annual wage of $65,000. The middle 50% earn between $50,050 and $83,200. The top 10% earn more than $104,000. There are approximately 27,000 College Professors employed in the Nashville, TN metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 5.9%.

Is Nashville, TN a good place for a College Professor?

Nashville, TN has a cost of living index of 110 (US average = 100), making it 10% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a College Professor in Nashville, TN earning $65,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $59,091 relative to the US median. Tennessee has no state income tax, which is a significant financial advantage.

What is the cost of living adjustment for Nashville, TN?

Nashville, TN's cost of living index is 110, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $65,000 in Nashville, TNhas the same purchasing power as $59,091 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.

Compare Nashville, TN with Another City

See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.