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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.

$6,305median pay per month in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area
$8,135employer cost per month with benefits
$36.38median pay per hour
640people in this job in the North Central Tennessee nonmetro area

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

Range10thMedian90th
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
10th to 90th percentilemiddle half (25th to 75th)median

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 rangePer yearPer monthPer hourEmployer 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.

$97,626local hire, first year incl. benefits
$13,888remote hire, first year incl. fee
$83,738difference in year one
86%of the local cost saved

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.

The 5 roles closest in pay. All 17 roles in North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro)
RoleMedianvs accountantJobs
Project Coordinator
$78,470
+3.7%410
Accountant
$75,660
this role640
Marketing Specialist
$62,750
-17.1%240
Recruiter
$60,710
-19.8%570
Office Manager
$59,610
-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).

AreaMedianvs the North Central Tennessee nonmetro areaJobs
Memphis, TN-MS
$76,960
+1.7%4,390
Chattanooga, TN-GA
$76,680
+1.3%1,940
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
$75,940
+0.4%780
North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro)
$75,660
this area640
South Central Tennessee (Nonmetro)
$75,550
-0.1%530
Knoxville, TN
$75,380
-0.4%3,240
Morristown, TN
$72,810
-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 areaMedianvs the North Central Tennessee nonmetro areaJobsClose in
Grand Junction, CO
$76,870
+1.6%640jobs
La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
$76,680
+1.3%630jobs
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
$75,750
+0.1%370pay
Provo-Orem, UT
$75,700
+0.1%3,020pay
North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro)
$75,660
this area640
Sherman-Denison, TX
$75,650
-0.0%260pay
Bangor, ME
$75,640
-0.0%400pay
Macon-Bibb County, GA
$74,870
-1.0%640jobs

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
  1. BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: bls.gov
  2. BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
  3. Stafka pricing: stafka.com
  4. Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com

How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.