The median math teacher salary in Tennessee was $61,860 for high school teachers and $60,690 for middle school teachers as of May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. These figures cover teachers of all subjects, including math. Chattanooga has the highest high school median of any metro area, at $65,100, with Nashville close behind at $64,710.
If you’re weighing a teaching job in Tennessee, the city you pick moves your pay less than you might expect. High school medians across Tennessee’s 10 metro areas sit within $5,400 of each other, and the statewide gap between high school and middle school is $1,170. Here’s what BLS reports for the state, every metro area, and the job outlook through 2034.
Tennessee Math Teacher Salary by Grade Level
BLS has no separate math teacher category, so any figure for math teacher salary in Tennessee comes from its high school and middle school teacher data. Those figures cover all subjects, math included. Tennessee employed 21,230 high school teachers and 13,060 middle school teachers as of May 2025.
| Occupation | Employed | Median Annual Wage | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High School Teachers | 21,230 | $61,860 | $73,740 | $79,180 |
| Middle School Teachers | 13,060 | $60,690 | $64,650 | $76,830 |
What Top Earners Make in Tennessee
The top 10% of high school teachers in Tennessee earned $79,180 or more as of May 2025, which is $17,320 above the state median. Nationally, the 90th percentile for high school teachers was $107,600, so Tennessee’s top end sits $28,420 lower.
Middle school pay is compressed the same way: $76,830 at the 90th percentile in Tennessee, against $102,540 nationally. BLS percentiles aren’t experience levels, so don’t read the 90th percentile as what a 20-year veteran earns. Tennessee districts set pay through their own salary schedules, so check the posted schedule for any district you apply to.
How Tennessee Compares to the National Median
Tennessee high school teachers earned $10,180 less than the national median of $72,040 as of May 2025. Middle school teachers sit closer, $3,680 below the national median of $64,370. You can see how every state compares on our national math teacher pay page.
Tennessee lands in the middle of its region. Three of its eight neighbors show the range. Virginia math teacher pay runs well ahead, with a high school median of $72,170 and a middle school median of $63,520. Kentucky math teacher salaries are almost the same as Tennessee’s, at $61,560 for high school and $61,120 for middle school. Mississippi math teachers earn the least of the three, at $50,980 for high school and $50,790 for middle school.
Math Teacher Salaries in Tennessee Cities
High school medians across Tennessee metro areas run from $59,700 in Jackson to $65,100 in Chattanooga as of May 2025. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin employs more high school teachers than any other metro, 6,080, and pays a $64,710 median. Six of the 10 metros top the $61,860 state figure: Chattanooga, Cleveland, Kingsport-Bristol, Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville.
Middle school pay varies more. Medians run from $55,860 in Jackson to $63,410 in Knoxville. In two metros, Johnson City and Knoxville, middle school teachers out-earn high school teachers at the median. Johnson City shows the wider gap, with a $63,010 middle school median against $60,180 for high school.
This table lists all 10 metro areas in the BLS data that include part of Tennessee, with medians for both grade bands. The six metros based wholly in Tennessee come first. Chattanooga, Clarksville, Kingsport-Bristol and Memphis, listed last, cross state lines, and their figures include the Georgia, Kentucky, Virginia, Mississippi and Arkansas sides of those metro areas.
| Metro Area | High School Median | Middle School Median | Employed (High / Middle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, TN | $63,380 | $61,760 | 280 / 240 |
| Jackson, TN | $59,700 | $55,860 | 580 / 430 |
| Johnson City, TN | $60,180 | $63,010 | 640 / 370 |
| Knoxville, TN | $63,130 | $63,410 | 2,820 / 1,830 |
| Morristown, TN | $61,300 | $60,180 | 330 / 390 |
| Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN | $64,710 | $61,090 | 6,080 / 4,010 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $65,100 | $63,030 | 1,790 / 1,060 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $60,720 | $59,520 | 930 / 660 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $61,990 | $60,600 | 790 / 590 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $62,230 | $58,380 | 4,860 / 1,750 |
Job Outlook for Math Teachers in Tennessee
Unlike the flat national outlook, Tennessee is projected to add teaching jobs over the next decade. Projections Central estimates employment of high school teachers in Tennessee will grow 9.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 18,310 to 20,040 jobs, with an average of 1,370 openings per year. Middle school teaching employment is projected to grow 8.9% over the same period, from 11,290 to 12,300 jobs, with an average of 890 openings per year.
These are Tennessee-specific projections from the state’s Jobs4TN labor market information site. Together, the two grade bands add up to about 2,260 openings a year statewide.
The national picture is flat. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook projects little or no change in employment of high school teachers from 2025 to 2035, from 1,087,500 to 1,085,000 jobs, with about 63,500 openings a year. Employment of middle school teachers is projected to go from 630,100 to 627,400 over the same period, also little or no change, with about 38,800 openings a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do math teachers make in Tennessee?
High school teachers in Tennessee earned a median annual salary of $61,860 as of May 2025, and middle school teachers earned $60,690, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. BLS reports these figures for teachers of all subjects, including math.
Which Tennessee city pays math teachers the most?
Chattanooga has the highest high school median of any metro area that includes part of Tennessee, at $65,100 as of May 2025. Nashville leads the metros based wholly in Tennessee, at $64,710. For middle school, Knoxville leads with a $63,410 median.
Do high school math teachers earn more than middle school math teachers in Tennessee?
Statewide, yes, by $1,170 at the median as of May 2025. That flips in two metros: Johnson City and Knoxville both pay middle school teachers more than high school teachers at the median.
Is Tennessee adding math teaching jobs?
Yes. Projections Central estimates high school teaching employment in Tennessee will grow 9.4% and middle school teaching employment 8.9% between 2024 and 2034. That works out to about 1,370 high school and 890 middle school openings each year.
How does Tennessee math teacher pay compare to the national median?
Tennessee’s high school median of $61,860 is $10,180 below the national median of $72,040 as of May 2025. The middle school gap is smaller: Tennessee’s $60,690 median sits $3,680 below the national $64,370.
- State median: Tennessee high school teachers earned a $61,860 median and middle school teachers $60,690 as of May 2025, across all subjects.
- Tight metro range: High school medians run from $59,700 in Jackson to $65,100 in Chattanooga, a $5,400 spread.
- Middle school can pay more: In Johnson City and Knoxville, middle school teachers out-earn high school teachers at the median.
- Below the national median: Tennessee trails the national high school median by $10,180 and the middle school median by $3,680.
- Projected growth: Employment is projected to grow about 9% by 2034, with about 2,260 high school and middle school openings a year.
2025 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for Middle School Teachers and High School Teachers, which include teachers of all subjects. Job growth projections (2024-2034) are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures reflect state and national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed October 2026. National job outlook figures (2025-2035) are from the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.
If you’re planning to teach math in Tennessee, compare programs by whether they lead to a Tennessee teaching license with a math endorsement and how they arrange your clinical placement. The schools listed here include online options for career changers who need to keep working while they train.