Preschool Teacher Salary in Tennessee
Preschool teachers in Tennessee earned a median of $34,280 a year ($16.48 an hour) and a mean of $41,170 in May 2025. The median is 10.1% below the U.S. median of $38,140, ranking 43rd of 54 states and territories, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Median annual
- $34,280
- Median hourly
- $16.48
- Mean annual
- $41,170
- Jobs on record
- 5,420
Grey needle: U.S. median, $38,140 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state file, May 2025. Wage and salary jobs only; the self-employed are not counted. OEWS pay excludes overtime, shift differentials and non-production bonuses. Confirm any figure on bls.gov/oes. Latest BLS release: May 2025, published May 15, 2026; checked November 10, 2026.
How does Tennessee compare on pay for preschool teachers?
Tennessee ranks 43rd of 54 states and territories. District of Columbia is highest at $62,150, $27,870 more than the Tennessee median.
| State | Rank | Median | Against U.S. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 41 | $35,010 | -8% | 3,670 |
| South Carolina | 42 | $34,500 | -10% | 4,550 |
| Tennessee | 43 | $34,280 | -10% | 5,420 |
| Arkansas | 44 | $34,190 | -10% | 3,270 |
| Texas | 45 | $33,860 | -11% | 41,200 |
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025. Rank 1 is the highest median among 54 states and territories with a published figure. See every state.
Does Tennessee pay go further after prices?
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the U.S. average, so the $34,280 median buys about what $37,314 buys at average U.S. prices, below the $38,140 U.S. median. On this measure Tennessee ranks 36th of 51, up from 42nd before the adjustment.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025; BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024. The adjustment divides pay by the state's price level.
Which areas in Tennessee pay preschool teachers the most?
West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area is highest at $46,840, 36.6% above the Tennessee median.
| Area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,840 | 210 |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $46,200 | 140 |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $45,160 | 200 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $36,250 | 1,290 |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $36,170 | 180 |
| Jackson, TN | $35,980 | 120 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $34,810 | 200 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $34,600 | 500 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $34,510 | 2,290 |
| Knoxville, TN | $29,500 | 520 |
| Johnson City, TN | $29,370 | 80 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $28,320 | 320 |
| Cleveland, TN | $28,130 | 70 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan and nonmetropolitan area file, May 2025. Every area BLS lists for this job in Tennessee is shown; an area that crosses state lines is listed under the first state in its BLS title.
How many preschool teachers work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 5,420 jobs in Tennessee, 1.1% of the 478,780 in the U.S. That is the 26th largest count among the 54 states and territories with a published figure. That is 1.7 of every 1,000 jobs in Tennessee, a location quotient of 0.54: the occupation's share of local jobs is 0.54 times its national share, so it is less concentrated here than in the U.S. as a whole.
Source: BLS OEWS state file, May 2025 and national file.
Related jobs in Tennessee
Related occupations from O*NET; pay from BLS OEWS state file, May 2025.