Accountant salary in the West Tennessee nonmetro area
The West Tennessee nonmetro area is a lower-cost market for accountants: the median of $71,340 a year1 is 7.2% below the Tennessee statewide median of $76,840, and 14.7% below the US median of $83,680. That is in the bottom quarter of US areas (#426 of 521). BLS counts about 510 people in this job here, 2% of the Tennessee total.
BLS occupation 13-2011, area West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in the West Tennessee nonmetro area against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Tennessee (Nonmetro) | $47,450 | $71,340 | $112,890 | |
| Tennessee | $49,920 | $76,840 | $122,160 | |
| United States | $56,020 | $83,680 | $144,090 |
Accountants at the 90th percentile earn $112,890, 2.4 times the 10th percentile; the US ratio is 2.6. The middle half of accountants in the West Tennessee nonmetro area earns $56,980–$90,080. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $33,100 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 | $47,450 | $3,954 | $22.81 | $61,226 |
| 25th percentile | $56,980 | $4,748 | $27.39 | $73,523 |
| Median | $71,340 | $5,945 | $34.30 | $92,052 |
| 75th percentile | $90,080 | $7,507 | $43.31 | $116,232 |
| 90th percentile | $112,890 | $9,408 | $54.27 | $145,665 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $14,360 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $18,740, or about $24,181 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 West Tennessee nonmetro area, and the Tennessee statewide median of $76,840 falls there too.
What a hire really costs in the West Tennessee nonmetro area
At the $71,340 median, a local hire costs about $92,052 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $20,712 here. 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 West Tennessee nonmetro area
Of the 17 roles we track in the West Tennessee nonmetro area, this one ranks #2 by median pay, after project coordinators ($77,580); recruiters come next at $64,080.
| Role | Median | vs accountant | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +8.7% | 410 | |
| Accountant | this role | 510 | |
| Recruiter | -10.2% | 440 | |
| Office Manager | -14.5% | 1,340 | |
| Executive Assistant | -21.8% | 100 |
Measured against the US median, accountants rank #6 of the 17 roles we track in the West Tennessee nonmetro area (-14.7%), between data entry specialists (-14.4%) and recruiters (-15.6%). The typical role here is at -16.4%, so this job follows the area's general pay level. Accountants hold 5.5% of the jobs in these 17 roles in the West 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 9 areas in Tennessee with more accountants than the West Tennessee nonmetro area, 1 pays less: the East Tennessee nonmetro area ($68,780).
| Area | Median | vs the West Tennessee nonmetro area | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morristown, TN | +2.1% | 240 | |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | +2.0% | 510 | |
| Jackson, TN | +0.9% | 520 | |
| Cleveland, TN | +0.7% | 180 | |
| West Tennessee (Nonmetro) | this area | 510 | |
| East Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -3.6% | 600 | |
| Johnson City, TN | -9.3% | 510 |
the West Tennessee nonmetro area against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, the West Tennessee nonmetro area is #352 of 521 US areas for this job. It is a mid-sized market, and its pay is in the bottom quarter of US areas. Outside Tennessee, Springfield and Weirton-Steubenville pay just above the West Tennessee nonmetro area and Coeur d'Alene and Daphne-Fairhope just below. All four are within $150 a year of the median in the West Tennessee nonmetro area. Of the three markets with about as many accountants, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs the West Tennessee nonmetro area | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monroe, LA | +3.5% | 510 | jobs | |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | +0.2% | 200 | pay | |
| Springfield, OH | +0.1% | 270 | pay | |
| West Tennessee (Nonmetro) | this area | 510 | ||
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | -0.2% | 380 | pay | |
| Daphne-Fairhope, AL | -0.2% | 820 | pay | |
| Laredo, TX | -11.1% | 510 | jobs | |
| Terre Haute, IN | -11.5% | 510 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an accountant in West Tennessee (Nonmetro)?
About $92,052 a year at the median, or $7,671 a month: $71,340 in pay plus about $20,712 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do accountants earn in the West Tennessee nonmetro area?
Pay here is lower than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $71,340 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $47,450, the 90th $112,890, and the middle half earned $56,980 to $90,080.
Is the West Tennessee nonmetro area cheaper than the rest of Tennessee for accountants?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $71,340 against $76,840 statewide. The next area up in Tennessee is Cleveland at $71,840, the next down the East Tennessee nonmetro area at $68,780.
How many accountants work in the West Tennessee nonmetro area?
BLS counts about 510 in the May 2025 survey. That is 2% of the Tennessee total of 27,340. 11 areas in Tennessee have more; the closest in size is Johnson City, with about 510.
Does an accountant cost more than a recruiter in the West Tennessee nonmetro area?
Yes: $7,260 a year more at the median. The medians are $71,340 and $64,080.
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.