Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary Salary in Tennessee
In Tennessee, teaching assistants, except postsecondary earn a median $29,210 a year, well below the national median of $36,780 (−21%); the state ranks 43rd of 51 states by median. That is 38% less than the median across all occupations in Tennessee ($47,380). Among neighbouring states, Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky and North Carolina pay more (up to $38,520 in Virginia) and Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama pay less (down to $24,070 in Alabama). Tennessee employs 23,280 teaching assistants, except postsecondary, 7.10 per 1,000 jobs, the 21st largest count of any state. A location quotient of 0.78 means it is less common in Tennessee than nationally.
Tennessee vs the United States, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Tennessee | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 23,280 | 7.10 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $22,010 | $23,710 | $29,210 | $36,870 | $40,310 | $30,660 | ||||
| United States | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,420,350 | – | – |
| Annual | $27,150 | $31,060 | $36,780 | $45,360 | $50,040 | $38,290 | ||||
- Rank by median
- 43rd of 51 states
- Rank by employment
- 21st of 51 states
- Location quotient
- 0.78
- Jobs per 1,000
- 7.10
Ranks count the 50 states and DC with a published value. The location quotient is the occupation's share of Tennessee's employment divided by its national share; 1.00 means the same share as the nation. Take-home pay at these wages: FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Metropolitan areas in Tennessee
10 metropolitan areas and 4 nonmetropolitan areas touching Tennessee publish a row for teaching assistants, except postsecondary, sorted by median. Areas crossing a state line are listed under every state they touch; a linked metro has its own profile.
| Area | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | * | $32,620 | $22,800 | $44,160 | 6,060 | 5.52 | 0.60 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | * | $29,840 | $22,550 | $36,420 | 1,210 | 4.50 | 0.49 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | * | $29,330 | $24,490 | $40,270 | 4,280 | 7.00 | 0.77 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | * | $29,260 | $23,070 | $45,420 | 1,410 | 11.76 | 1.29 |
| Jackson, TN | * | $29,190 | $22,680 | $39,320 | 850 | 10.04 | 1.10 |
| Johnson City, TN | * | $28,370 | $16,040 | $36,610 | 750 | 9.24 | 1.01 |
| Knoxville, TN | * | $26,960 | $22,010 | $36,390 | 3,070 | 7.24 | 0.79 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | * | $26,520 | $23,440 | $33,590 | 1,070 | 10.38 | 1.14 |
| Morristown, TN | * | $26,200 | $21,020 | $34,520 | 450 | 9.44 | 1.03 |
| Cleveland, TN | * | $23,940 | $22,750 | $36,470 | 390 | 9.15 | 1.00 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | * | $30,100 | $22,560 | $38,940 | 1,390 | 12.09 | 1.32 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | * | $28,660 | $21,910 | $36,730 | 1,430 | 13.01 | 1.42 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | * | $28,110 | $18,470 | $37,600 | 1,320 | 9.38 | 1.03 |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | * | $25,600 | $18,780 | $39,150 | 1,550 | 13.26 | 1.45 |
Neighbouring states
| State | Median hourly | Median annual | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | * | $29,210 | 23,280 | 0.78 |
| Alabama | * | $24,070 | 10,140 | 0.53 |
| Arkansas | * | $28,790 | 11,270 | 0.95 |
| Georgia | * | $28,770 | 33,410 | 0.75 |
| Kentucky | * | $30,160 | 16,330 | 0.89 |
| Missouri | * | $36,300 | 20,930 | 0.78 |
| Mississippi | * | $25,840 | 9,750 | 0.92 |
| North Carolina | * | $29,790 | 32,150 | 0.71 |
| Virginia | * | $38,520 | 31,370 | 0.84 |
See the national page for Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary (every state ranked) and the Tennessee wage profile (every occupation in the state).
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS Tennessee estimates.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.