State comparison · 2025
Elementary School Teachers salary: California vs Tennessee
Elementary School Teachers in California earn a median of $99,650. In Tennessee, $59,980. After cost-of-living, the gap is 37.9% — not 66.1%.
Nominal pay gap
+66.1%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+37.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Elementary School Teachers
- Median
- $99,650
- p25
- $77,140
- p75
- $119,970
- p10
- $61,940
- p90
- $127,070
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -35%
Tennessee
Elementary School Teachers
- Median
- $59,980
- p25
- $50,360
- p75
- $64,590
- p10
- $48,100
- p90
- $76,840
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -25%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.