Accountant salary and cost of hiring in Tennessee
The median accountant in Tennessee earned $76,840 a year in May 2025[1], 8.2% below the US median of $83,680. That puts Tennessee at #38 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-2011. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $49,920 | $76,840 | $122,160 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
The middle half of accountants in Tennessee earns $62,430–$94,790; the top tenth earns $122,160 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the Tennessee median that makes about $109,771 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. 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 fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in Tennessee
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $97,420 | 11,290 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $95,210 | 4,390 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $97,890 | 1,940 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $98,470 | 780 | |
| North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $96,230 | 640 | |
| South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $90,990 | 530 | |
| Knoxville, TN | $95,930 | 3,240 | |
| Morristown, TN | $91,310 | 240 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $82,590 | 510 | |
| Jackson, TN | $86,600 | 520 | |
| Cleveland, TN | $85,610 | 180 | |
| West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $90,080 | 510 | |
| East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area | $82,920 | 600 | |
| Johnson City, TN | $83,290 | 510 |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN pays the most ($78,080) and Johnson City, TN the least ($64,710): $13,370 a year apart for the same job.
What an accountant does
An accountant goes beyond bookkeeping: month-end close, financial statements, budgets, management reports and support for audits and tax filings.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Maine | +0.8% | |
| Iowa | +0.8% | |
| Tennessee | +0.0% | |
| Missouri | -0.3% | |
| South Carolina | -0.4% |
Questions
How much does an accountant earn in Tennessee?
The median was $76,840 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $62,430 to $94,790.
What does it cost to employ an accountant in Tennessee?
About $109,771 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in Tennessee do accountants earn the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN, with a median of $78,080 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-2011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes132011.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.