Accountant salary in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area
The North Central Tennessee nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $75,660 a year1 is 1.5% below the Tennessee statewide median of $76,840, and 9.6% below the US median of $83,680. Nationally it ranks #304 of 521 areas. About 640 accountants work here, 2% of the Tennessee total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | $48,820 | $75,660 | $141,580 | |
| Tennessee | $49,920 | $76,840 | $122,160 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Pay is more spread out here than nationally: the top tenth earns $141,580 or more, 2.9 times the bottom tenth, against 2.6 times across the US. Two offers for the same title can sit far apart. The middle half of accountants in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area earns $60,320–$96,230. The mean ($87,100) is 15% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $35,910 wide, between the figure for Tennessee ($32,360) and the US figure ($42,790).
What to budget for an accountant here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $48,820 | $4,068 | $23.47 | $62,994 |
| 25th percentile | $60,320 | $5,027 | $29.00 | $77,832 |
| Median | $75,660 | $6,305 | $36.38 | $97,626 |
| 75th percentile | $96,230 | $8,019 | $46.26 | $124,168 |
| 90th percentile | $141,580 | $11,798 | $68.07 | $182,684 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $15,340 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $20,570, or about $26,542 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $83,680 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area, and the Tennessee statewide median of $76,840 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, which adds about $21,966 to the $75,660 median and brings it to $97,626 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for accountants we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($78,470); marketing specialists come next at $62,750.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +3.7% | 410 | |
| Accountant | this role | 640 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -17.1% | 240 | |
| Recruiter | -19.8% | 570 | |
| Office Manager | -21.2% | 1,330 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #2 of the 17 roles we track in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area (-9.6%), between HR assistants (-5.5%) and bookkeepers (-12.0%). The typical role here is at -18.9%, so, measured against the US, accountants cost more in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area than the area's general pay level would suggest. Accountants hold 6.2% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area, 7.5% across Tennessee and 9.1% nationally. The job is a smaller part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Tennessee
Across the 14 areas of Tennessee with data for this job, the median runs from $64,710 in Johnson City to $78,080 in Nashville-Murfreesboro, a gap of $13,370 a year. Of the 5 areas in Tennessee with more accountants than the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area, 1 pays less: Knoxville, TN ($75,380).
| Area | Median | vs the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS | +1.7% | 4,390 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | +1.3% | 1,940 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | +0.4% | 780 | |
| North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | this area | 640 | |
| South Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -0.1% | 530 | |
| Knoxville, TN | -0.4% | 3,240 | |
| Morristown, TN | -3.8% | 240 |
the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area is #300 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Tennessee, Provo-Orem and Pinehurst-Southern Pines pay just above the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area and Sherman-Denison and Bangor just below. All four are within $90 a year of the median in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | +1.6% | 640 | jobs | |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | +1.3% | 630 | jobs | |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | +0.1% | 370 | pay | |
| Provo-Orem, UT | +0.1% | 3,020 | pay | |
| North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | this area | 640 | ||
| Sherman-Denison, TX | -0.0% | 260 | pay | |
| Bangor, ME | -0.0% | 400 | pay | |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | -1.0% | 640 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro)?
About $97,626 a year at the median, or $8,135 a month: $75,660 in pay plus about $21,966 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for accountants in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area?
The median was $75,660 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $48,820, the 90th $141,580, and the middle half earned $60,320 to $96,230.
Is the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Tennessee for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $75,660 against $76,840 statewide. The next area up in Tennessee is Kingsport-Bristol at $75,940, the next down the South Central Tennessee nonmetro area at $75,550.
How many accountants work in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 640 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Tennessee total of 27,340. 5 areas in Tennessee have more; the closest in size is Kingsport-Bristol, with about 780.
Does an accountant cost more than a marketing specialist in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area?
Yes: $12,910 a year more at the median. The medians are $75,660 and $62,750.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.