Cost of hiring a customer support specialist in Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN
No other area in Tennessee pays customer support specialists more than Nashville-Murfreesboro: the median is $45,510 a year[1]. That is 6.3% above the Tennessee statewide median of $42,830, and 1.7% above the US median of $44,770. That is in the top quarter of US areas (#116 of 520). With about 20,770 customer support specialists, 35% of the Tennessee total, no area in Tennessee employs more.
BLS occupation 43-4051, area Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Nashville-Murfreesboro against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | $32,140 | $45,510 | $63,730 | |
| Tennessee | $31,100 | $42,830 | $60,070 | |
| United States | $31,750 | $44,770 | $63,590 |
The middle half of customer support specialists in Nashville-Murfreesboro earns $37,770–$51,900. The top tenth earns $63,730 or more, 2.0 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.0 times.
What to budget for a customer support specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $32,140 | $2,678 | $15.45 | $45,914 |
| 25th percentile | $37,770 | $3,148 | $18.16 | $53,957 |
| Median | $45,510 | $3,792 | $21.88 | $65,014 |
| 75th percentile | $51,900 | $4,325 | $24.95 | $74,143 |
| 90th percentile | $63,730 | $5,311 | $30.64 | $91,043 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $7,740 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $6,390, or about $9,129 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.
What a hire really costs in Nashville-Murfreesboro
Pay is only part of it. Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], which adds about $19,504 to the $45,510 median and brings it to $65,014 a year. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
Our open customer support specialist roles pay $700–$1,000 a month under a direct contract. The one-time fee is $2,500–$3,000[3] with a 180-day replacement; paying through Deel adds $49 a month[4]. Change any number below to match your plan.
For the $65,014 a local hire costs here, you could cover about 4.9 remote hires in year one at the midpoint of our range. From year two the fee drops out and the remote figure is $10,788. About the candidates: most apply through our Telegram bot with a written and a voice English task; each profile shows the English level (B1–C2); Silkstaff checks English on a live call before any client interview.
Other roles in Nashville-Murfreesboro
Of the 17 roles we track in Nashville-Murfreesboro, this one ranks #14 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $85,990 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $36,810.
| Role | Median | vs customer support specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +88.9% | 7,950 | |
| Accountant | +71.6% | 11,290 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +69.7% | 5,510 | |
| Executive Assistant | +61.9% | 2,430 | |
| Office Manager | +60.5% | 17,890 | |
| Recruiter | +48.1% | 8,210 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +38.3% | 9,370 | |
| Paralegal | +33.6% | 2,660 | |
| Payroll Specialist | +23.0% | 1,460 | |
| Bookkeeper | +11.6% | 13,790 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +7.7% | 12,100 | |
| HR Assistant | +0.3% | 1,330 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +0.1% | 12,970 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | this role | 20,770 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -2.2% | 760 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -10.9% | 730 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -19.1% | 4,040 |
Other areas in Tennessee
Across the 14 areas of Tennessee with data for this job, the median runs from $36,130 in Kingsport-Bristol to $45,510 in Nashville-Murfreesboro, a gap of $9,380 a year.
| Area | Median | vs Nashville-Murfreesboro | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | this area | 20,770 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | -1.1% | 5,120 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | -3.1% | 9,360 | |
| Knoxville, TN | -14.7% | 6,640 | |
| North Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -14.8% | 1,510 | |
| Jackson, TN | -15.0% | 970 | |
| South Central Tennessee (Nonmetro) | -15.7% | 1,170 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a customer support specialist in Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN?
About $65,014 a year at the median, or $5,418 a month: $45,510 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do customer support specialists earn in Nashville-Murfreesboro?
The median was $45,510 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $32,140, the 90th $63,730, and the middle half earned $37,770 to $51,900.
Is Nashville-Murfreesboro the most expensive area in Tennessee for customer support specialists?
Yes. Its median of $45,510 is the highest of 14 areas in Tennessee. Chattanooga comes next at $45,030.
How many customer support specialists work in Nashville-Murfreesboro?
BLS counts about 20,770 in the May 2025 survey. That is 35% of the Tennessee total of 59,730.
Does a customer support specialist cost more than a data entry specialist in Nashville-Murfreesboro?
Yes: $1,020 a year more at the median. The medians are $45,510 and $44,490.
What does a remote customer support specialist cost compared with Nashville-Murfreesboro?
Our open roles pay $700–$1,000 a month. At the midpoint, with the one-time fee and Deel, year one comes to $13,288, against about $65,014 for a local hire at the median.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4051: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes434051.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 2026-11-06.