Teacher Salary
Schedules

2026-27 · State salary guide

Tennessee teacher salary schedules 2026-27

Southeast landscape with a school, trees and warm sunlight.
Average salary
$61,222NEA 2024-25
Starting salary
$47,230NEA 2024-25
State minimum
$50,000See state terms
Districts sourced
8Official schedules

Tennessee teachers averaged $61,222 in 2024-25 per NEA, and the average starting salary was $47,230.

Tennessee teachers averaged $61,222 in 2024-25 per NEA, and the average starting salary was $47,230. The State Board of Education raised the state minimum salary for 2026-27 to $50,000 for a new teacher with a bachelor's degree, up from $47,000. Among the eight largest districts with posted 2026-27 schedules, bachelor's starting pay runs from $50,003.78 in Hamilton County to $54,521.41 in Metro Nashville, and top base salaries in the highest lanes reach about $97,000.

Last verified · View sources

Compare district salaries

Annual base pay, by education level. Years and contract terms can differ; open each schedule before comparing.

Select a column heading to sort. Scroll the table horizontally for more columns. — means not supplied.

Tennessee district salary comparison
Official source
Memphis-Shelby County SchoolsMemphis2026-27$51,828$55,871$72,951$78,621$90,575Schedule ↗ for Memphis-Shelby County Schools
Metro Nashville Public SchoolsNashville2026-27$54,521$60,070$78,706$85,036$96,981Schedule ↗ for Metro Nashville Public Schools
Knox County SchoolsKnoxville2026-27$50,090$54,031$77,602$81,543—Schedule ↗ for Knox County Schools
Hamilton County SchoolsChattanooga2026-27$50,004$55,325$77,501$85,747$92,606Schedule ↗ for Hamilton County Schools
Williamson County SchoolsFranklin2026-27$52,124$57,968$76,578$84,222$93,510Schedule ↗ for Williamson County Schools
Clarksville-Montgomery County School SystemClarksville2026-27$51,000$55,858$81,576$87,134—Schedule ↗ for Clarksville-Montgomery County School System
Sumner County SchoolsGallatin2026-27$50,500$53,783$72,535$77,248$84,761Schedule ↗ for Sumner County Schools
Wilson County SchoolsLebanon2026-27$50,016$53,623$77,429$81,036$84,643Schedule ↗ for Wilson County Schools

8 districts shown

The district picture

Starting pay to top pay

Largest districts included in this guide, sorted by published top pay. Starting pay is the bachelor’s entry rate; top pay is the highest published maximum across degree lanes.

━ Bachelor’s start▨ Top pay · all degree lanes
Metro Nashville Public Schools2026-27

BA start $54,521

Top $96,981

Williamson County Schools2026-27

BA start $52,124

Top $93,510

Hamilton County Schools2026-27

BA start $50,004

Top $92,606

Memphis-Shelby County Schools2026-27

BA start $51,828

Top $90,575

Clarksville-Montgomery County School System2026-27

BA start $51,000

Top $87,134

Sumner County Schools2026-27

BA start $50,500

Top $84,761

Wilson County Schools2026-27

BA start $50,016

Top $84,643

Knox County Schools2026-27

BA start $50,090

Top $81,543

Rutherford County SchoolsYear not published

Schedule not published

Sevier County SchoolsYear not published

Schedule not published

Annual base salary on a shared zero-based scale. Top pay can require advanced qualifications and many years of service. Missing values are not zero.
View district chart data
Published district pay
DistrictYearBA startTop pay
Metro Nashville Public Schools2026-27$54,521$96,981
Williamson County Schools2026-27$52,124$93,510
Hamilton County Schools2026-27$50,004$92,606
Memphis-Shelby County Schools2026-27$51,828$90,575
Clarksville-Montgomery County School System2026-27$51,000$87,134
Sumner County Schools2026-27$50,500$84,761
Wilson County Schools2026-27$50,016$84,643
Knox County Schools2026-27$50,090$81,543
Rutherford County SchoolsNot publishedNot publishedNot published
Sevier County SchoolsNot publishedNot publishedNot published

Experience & progression

How pay grows by step

Bachelor’s lane · 5 districts with numeric step data

$0k$20k$40k$60k$80k08152330Experience stepMemphis-Shelby County Schools: step 0, $51,828Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 1, $52,854Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 2, $53,905Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 3, $54,946Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 4, $55,991Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 5, $57,089Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 6, $58,194Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 7, $59,273Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 8, $60,295Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 9, $61,332Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 10, $62,367Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 11, $63,478Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 12, $64,616Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 13, $65,779Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 14, $66,939Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 15, $68,412Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 16, $69,931Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 17, $71,451Memphis-Shelby County Schools: step 18, $72,951Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 0, $54,521Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 1, $55,725Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 2, $56,929Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 3, $58,132Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 4, $59,336Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 5, $60,539Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 6, $61,743Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 7, $62,946Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 8, $64,150Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 9, $65,354Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 10, $66,557Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 11, $67,761Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 12, $68,964Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 13, $70,168Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 14, $71,542Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 15, $73,152Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 16, $73,394Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 17, $74,212Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 18, $75,030Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 19, $76,028Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 20, $76,667Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 21, $77,004Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 22, $77,341Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 23, $77,678Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 24, $78,015Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 25, $78,352Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 26, $78,470Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 27, $78,588Metro Nashville Public Schools: step 28, $78,706Knox County Schools: step 0, $50,090Knox County Schools: step 1, $50,942Knox County Schools: step 2, $51,795Knox County Schools: step 3, $52,647Knox County Schools: step 4, $53,500Knox County Schools: step 5, $56,987Knox County Schools: step 6, $57,840Knox County Schools: step 7, $58,692Knox County Schools: step 8, $59,545Knox County Schools: step 9, $60,397Knox County Schools: step 10, $63,885Knox County Schools: step 11, $64,737Knox County Schools: step 12, $65,590Knox County Schools: step 13, $66,442Knox County Schools: step 14, $67,295Knox County Schools: step 15, $70,782Knox County Schools: step 16, $71,635Knox County Schools: step 17, $72,487Knox County Schools: step 18, $73,340Knox County Schools: step 19, $74,115Knox County Schools: step 20, $77,602Hamilton County Schools: step 0, $50,004Hamilton County Schools: step 1, $50,758Hamilton County Schools: step 2, $51,511Hamilton County Schools: step 3, $53,245Hamilton County Schools: step 4, $53,999Hamilton County Schools: step 5, $54,752Hamilton County Schools: step 6, $55,506Hamilton County Schools: step 7, $56,260Hamilton County Schools: step 8, $57,978Hamilton County Schools: step 9, $58,732Hamilton County Schools: step 10, $59,486Hamilton County Schools: step 11, $60,240Hamilton County Schools: step 12, $60,993Hamilton County Schools: step 13, $61,747Hamilton County Schools: step 14, $62,501Hamilton County Schools: step 15, $64,235Hamilton County Schools: step 16, $64,988Hamilton County Schools: step 17, $65,742Hamilton County Schools: step 18, $66,496Hamilton County Schools: step 19, $67,250Hamilton County Schools: step 20, $68,983Hamilton County Schools: step 21, $69,737Hamilton County Schools: step 22, $70,491Hamilton County Schools: step 23, $71,244Hamilton County Schools: step 24, $71,998Hamilton County Schools: step 25, $73,732Hamilton County Schools: step 26, $74,486Hamilton County Schools: step 27, $75,239Hamilton County Schools: step 28, $75,993Hamilton County Schools: step 29, $76,747Hamilton County Schools: step 30, $77,501Williamson County Schools: step 0, $52,124Williamson County Schools: step 1, $53,146Williamson County Schools: step 2, $54,188Williamson County Schools: step 3, $55,276Williamson County Schools: step 4, $55,792Williamson County Schools: step 5, $56,346Williamson County Schools: step 6, $56,904Williamson County Schools: step 7, $57,469Williamson County Schools: step 8, $58,037Williamson County Schools: step 9, $58,612Williamson County Schools: step 10, $59,194Williamson County Schools: step 11, $59,781Williamson County Schools: step 12, $60,379Williamson County Schools: step 13, $61,587Williamson County Schools: step 14, $62,817Williamson County Schools: step 15, $64,075Williamson County Schools: step 16, $65,355Williamson County Schools: step 17, $66,663Williamson County Schools: step 18, $67,995Williamson County Schools: step 19, $69,358Williamson County Schools: step 20, $70,743Williamson County Schools: step 21, $76,578
  • Memphis-Shelby County Schools2026-27
  • Metro Nashville Public Schools2026-27
  • Knox County Schools2026-27
  • Hamilton County Schools2026-27
  • Williamson County Schools2026-27
Lines connect published observations, not estimated salaries for missing steps. A step is not always a year of service. District placement rules and schedule years vary.
View step progression data
Bachelor’s lane by published step
DistrictStepAnnual pay
Memphis-Shelby County Schools0$51,828
Memphis-Shelby County Schools1$52,854
Memphis-Shelby County Schools2$53,905
Memphis-Shelby County Schools3$54,946
Memphis-Shelby County Schools4$55,991
Memphis-Shelby County Schools5$57,089
Memphis-Shelby County Schools6$58,194
Memphis-Shelby County Schools7$59,273
Memphis-Shelby County Schools8$60,295
Memphis-Shelby County Schools9$61,332
Memphis-Shelby County Schools10$62,367
Memphis-Shelby County Schools11$63,478
Memphis-Shelby County Schools12$64,616
Memphis-Shelby County Schools13$65,779
Memphis-Shelby County Schools14$66,939
Memphis-Shelby County Schools15$68,412
Memphis-Shelby County Schools16$69,931
Memphis-Shelby County Schools17$71,451
Memphis-Shelby County Schools18$72,951
Metro Nashville Public Schools0$54,521
Metro Nashville Public Schools1$55,725
Metro Nashville Public Schools2$56,929
Metro Nashville Public Schools3$58,132
Metro Nashville Public Schools4$59,336
Metro Nashville Public Schools5$60,539
Metro Nashville Public Schools6$61,743
Metro Nashville Public Schools7$62,946
Metro Nashville Public Schools8$64,150
Metro Nashville Public Schools9$65,354
Metro Nashville Public Schools10$66,557
Metro Nashville Public Schools11$67,761
Metro Nashville Public Schools12$68,964
Metro Nashville Public Schools13$70,168
Metro Nashville Public Schools14$71,542
Metro Nashville Public Schools15$73,152
Metro Nashville Public Schools16$73,394
Metro Nashville Public Schools17$74,212
Metro Nashville Public Schools18$75,030
Metro Nashville Public Schools19$76,028
Metro Nashville Public Schools20$76,667
Metro Nashville Public Schools21$77,004
Metro Nashville Public Schools22$77,341
Metro Nashville Public Schools23$77,678
Metro Nashville Public Schools24$78,015
Metro Nashville Public Schools25$78,352
Metro Nashville Public Schools26$78,470
Metro Nashville Public Schools27$78,588
Metro Nashville Public Schools28$78,706
Knox County Schools0$50,090
Knox County Schools1$50,942
Knox County Schools2$51,795
Knox County Schools3$52,647
Knox County Schools4$53,500
Knox County Schools5$56,987
Knox County Schools6$57,840
Knox County Schools7$58,692
Knox County Schools8$59,545
Knox County Schools9$60,397
Knox County Schools10$63,885
Knox County Schools11$64,737
Knox County Schools12$65,590
Knox County Schools13$66,442
Knox County Schools14$67,295
Knox County Schools15$70,782
Knox County Schools16$71,635
Knox County Schools17$72,487
Knox County Schools18$73,340
Knox County Schools19$74,115
Knox County Schools20$77,602
Hamilton County Schools0$50,004
Hamilton County Schools1$50,758
Hamilton County Schools2$51,511
Hamilton County Schools3$53,245
Hamilton County Schools4$53,999
Hamilton County Schools5$54,752
Hamilton County Schools6$55,506
Hamilton County Schools7$56,260
Hamilton County Schools8$57,978
Hamilton County Schools9$58,732
Hamilton County Schools10$59,486
Hamilton County Schools11$60,240
Hamilton County Schools12$60,993
Hamilton County Schools13$61,747
Hamilton County Schools14$62,501
Hamilton County Schools15$64,235
Hamilton County Schools16$64,988
Hamilton County Schools17$65,742
Hamilton County Schools18$66,496
Hamilton County Schools19$67,250
Hamilton County Schools20$68,983
Hamilton County Schools21$69,737
Hamilton County Schools22$70,491
Hamilton County Schools23$71,244
Hamilton County Schools24$71,998
Hamilton County Schools25$73,732
Hamilton County Schools26$74,486
Hamilton County Schools27$75,239
Hamilton County Schools28$75,993
Hamilton County Schools29$76,747
Hamilton County Schools30$77,501
Williamson County Schools0$52,124
Williamson County Schools1$53,146
Williamson County Schools2$54,188
Williamson County Schools3$55,276
Williamson County Schools4$55,792
Williamson County Schools5$56,346
Williamson County Schools6$56,904
Williamson County Schools7$57,469
Williamson County Schools8$58,037
Williamson County Schools9$58,612
Williamson County Schools10$59,194
Williamson County Schools11$59,781
Williamson County Schools12$60,379
Williamson County Schools13$61,587
Williamson County Schools14$62,817
Williamson County Schools15$64,075
Williamson County Schools16$65,355
Williamson County Schools17$66,663
Williamson County Schools18$67,995
Williamson County Schools19$69,358
Williamson County Schools20$70,743
Williamson County Schools21$76,578

The wider picture

Salary in context

Tennessee average$61,222
NEA 2024-25 · Source
State minimum$50,000
See state minimum terms below · Source
National average$74,495
Reporting year not published · Source
Average pay describes the workforce; a minimum is a floor subject to state rules. These measures can cover different years and are not equivalent starting offers.
View salary context data
State and national salary measures
MeasureAmountContext
Tennessee average$61,222NEA 2024-25
State minimum$50,000See state minimum terms below
National average$74,495Reporting year not published

State minimum salary

$50,000

The State Board of Education's State Minimum Salary Schedule for FY 2026-27 (final reading July 31, 2026, under T.C.A. 49-3-306(a)(1)) sets $50,000 as the base for a bachelor's degree with zero years of experience, up $3,000 from $47,000; the step-by-step attachment was not read. NEA average salary is FY 2024-25 (Rankings & Estimates, August 2026); starting salary is the NEA Teacher Salary Benchmark, FY 2024-25. District enrollment is the TDOE 2024-25 School Profile file, summed by district.

Read the state minimum source ↗

Before you compare offers

Match the school year, degree lane and credited experience. The published maximum is not a promise of starting placement. Confirm contract days, supplements and eligibility in each district’s official schedule.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find Tennessee district salary schedules?

Use the district comparison table on this page to open a district guide and its official salary schedule. Each source is linked with a verification date.

Does a master’s degree change the salary?

Check the master’s lane in the district’s published schedule. Degree supplements and placement rules vary; a missing value here does not mean there is no additional pay.

Sources and last checked

Last verified

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