State comparison · 2025
Middle School Teachers salary: California vs Tennessee
Middle School Teachers in California earn a median of $98,950. In Tennessee, $60,690. After cost-of-living, the gap is 35.4% — not 63%.
Nominal pay gap
+63%
California vs Tennessee
COL-adjusted gap
+35.4%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
California
Middle School Teachers
- Median
- $98,950
- p25
- $76,270
- p75
- $111,610
- p10
- $62,410
- p90
- $129,500
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 110.7
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -50%
Tennessee
Middle School Teachers
- Median
- $60,690
- p25
- $50,780
- p75
- $64,650
- p10
- $48,540
- p90
- $76,830
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 91.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- 0%
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.