worthsay

Psychology Salary in Tennessee: Is It a Good Career?

Tennessee · 2026 BLS salary data

Psychology pay in Tennessee

The median wage is $76,820/yr — 24% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Tennesseeranks #43 of 48 states by median pay.

The numbers in Tennessee

Real BLS state-level figures for Psychology.

Median salary
$76,820/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$56,990 – $100,180
National median
$100,580/yr
Employed in Tennessee
1,180

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Tennessee

Salary alone can mislead — Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
91.9
Nominal median
$76,820
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $83,591
State income tax
None

Tennessee levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do psychology professionals make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage is $76,820 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $56,990 and $100,180. That's 24% below the national median.

Is Tennessee a good state for psychology?

By raw pay, Tennessee ranks #43 of 48 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $83,591. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are psychology professionals in demand in Tennessee?

About 1,180 people work in this field in Tennessee (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +11.2% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Psychology nationally — Tennessee pay is 24% below the national median. See the full Psychology career guide →

The verdict

Yes if you go the full clinical route — licensed psychologists and counselors earn a solid, growing wage doing meaningful work, but a bachelor's alone in psychology has limited earning power. Worth it if you'll commit to a master's or doctorate.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • Meaningful, in-demand mental-health work
  • Faster-than-average projected growth
  • Solid pay at the licensed clinical level
  • Varied settings: private practice, hospitals, schools
  • Growing societal focus on mental health

Cons

  • Bachelor's alone has limited earning power
  • Clinical roles require a master's or doctorate
  • Licensure hours and exams take years
  • Emotional load and burnout risk
  • Insurance and paperwork burden in practice

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • Empathetic people committed to graduate training
  • Those who want meaningful clinical work
  • Anyone building toward private practice

✗ Probably not if…

  • People expecting strong pay from a bachelor's alone
  • Those unwilling to invest years in licensure

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Psychology is worth it — titles link to the original threads.