Why Tennessee Is a Great State for Teachers

If you’re considering a teaching career in Tennessee, there are plenty of points in the pro column:

• A growing job market for teachers
• A growing state population
• Rising teacher salaries
• A low cost of living (including no state income tax)
• A strong teacher-retention rate

Maybe you’re just starting out and looking to launch your teaching career in the Volunteer State. Maybe you’re a veteran educator considering a move. Either way, this post will give you a clear idea of what to expect in Tennessee when it comes to salary, benefits, career advancement, and more.

A Rising Salary Floor ($50K by 2026)

In 2023, Governor Bill Lee signed the Teacher Paycheck Protection Act, which implemented the largest teacher salary increase in Tennessee history. The minimum teacher salary has climbed in stages:

• 2019: $35,000
• 2023: $44,500
• 2025: $47,000
• 2026: $50,000

Now, that minimum salary is a floor, and many districts offer higher starting salaries for teachers. Metro Nashville Public Schools, for example, had a starting teacher salary of $53,610 in the 2025-26 school year, and Williamson County Schools starts teachers at $51,102. Teachers also earn more as they gain experience and advance their careers through professional development, master’s degrees, or even a Ph.D.

Gov. Lee said the goal is to make Tennessee a “top-10 state for teacher pay to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers.” And while the salary minimums are a start, Tennessee still has ground to cover. The average overall teacher salary in Tennessee is $61,222, according to the National Education Association. That puts Tennessee at No. 40 in the nation.

Recruitment Incentives and Financial Support

Tennessee is investing more than $20 million to combat the teacher shortage in the state and to ensure TN teachers have the support they need. This includes creating pathways to make it easier to go into teaching or to become a teacher for free. A few examples:

• The Tennessee Future Teacher Scholarship awards up to $3,500 per academic year for students enrolled in an approved Educator Preparation Program (EPP) in a Tennessee college or university. Scholarship recipients commit to teaching in a Tennessee public school for at least two consecutive years in a targeted setting (a high-need subject or an at-risk school).
• Tennessee’s Registered Teacher Apprentice Program (RTAP) allows apprentice teachers to be employed in a school while they build the skills they need to earn their license. The RTAP pathway is open to teachers, paraprofessionals, and principals.
• The Tennessee Math & Science Teacher’s Loan Forgiveness program forgives up to $10,000 for current public-school teachers in Tennessee seeking an advanced degree in math or science or a certification to teach one of those subjects.
• Tennessee teachers could also be eligible for federal teacher loan forgiveness or public-service loan forgiveness, depending on their particular situation.

It also makes sense to check with your school or district about any programs they offer, especially for new teachers or career changers. Tennessee is projecting more than 15% growth in jobs for elementary, middle, and secondary school teachers by 2032, compared to 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. As school officials work to fill those roles, many are being proactive about encouraging and supporting aspiring teachers as they join the profession.

Career Advancement and Professional Development

Tennessee uses a tiered licensure system with two main levels: the Practitioner License (your entry level credential) and the Professional License. If you still need to complete your Educator Preparation Program (EPP), you could start teaching in Tennessee with a Temporary Permit while you work toward your full license.

From there, teachers move up the salary scale with years of service, professional development, and/or by earning an advanced degree. The pay bump varies district by district, but earning a master’s degree is often one of the fastest ways to increase your teaching salary. And, as Tennessee raises the minimum salary for teachers, educators at all levels are seeing their salaries rise as well.

Quality of Life: Urban, Suburban, and Rural Tennessee

One of Tennessee’s real advantages is variety. You could teach in a major metro, a mid-size city with a lower cost of living, or a small rural community. Here’s a quick comparison among some popular Tennessee cities:

	Cost of Living	Median Home Value	Average Commute	Population	Community
Statewide	12% less than the national average	$425,000	Varies	7.3 million	Mix of urban, rural, and suburban
Nashville	2% less than the national average (12% higher than the state average)	$437,810	22.43 minutes (heavier traffic than the rest of the state)	708,056	Large, growing, diverse
Memphis	11% less than the national average (2% higher than the state average)	$237,280	20.41 minutes	626,786	Urban, strong community ties
Knoxville	14% less than the national average (2% less than the state average)	$326,479	19.54 minutes	206,721	College-town feel, outdoorsy
Chattanooga	12% less than the national average (equal to the state average)	$325,957	17.43 minutes	195,518	Outdoor-focused, arts scene

Sources: RentCafe, U.S. News & World Report

Mobility and Flexibility

Tennessee teachers have plenty of options. First, let’s look at earning your teaching license. You can choose an in-state EPP (the department of education maintains a list of approved programs) or an out-of-state program, depending on your priorities, preferences, and needs. If you choose an out-of-state provider, like Moreland University, you’ll use Tennessee’s Out-of-State Educator Preparation Verification Form.

If you already have your teaching license in another state, great! You don’t have to start over, and you can likely use the reciprocity process to transfer your license to Tennessee.

From there, you can start looking at where, specifically, you want to teach in Tennessee. The state has a mix of public, private, and charter schools, so you can look for a teaching job that fits your priorities. Each sector has different hiring requirements and salary structures, so it’s worth researching your options based on where you want to live and what kind of school environment you’re looking for.

Become a Tennessee Teacher with Moreland University

Moreland University supports Tennessee teachers through our 9-month teacher certification program, 12-month master’s degrees, and ongoing professional development.

To learn more, join an upcoming information session. Or click here to book a 1:1 chat with our team. We’re happy to help.