HR Manager Salary in Tennessee: $124K Median

The average HR Manager salary in Tennessee is $123,500 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $74,100 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $190,000 (90th percentile). Tennessee has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.

HR Managers in Tennessee earn approximately 5% less than the US national median ($130,000 nationally vs $123,500 in Tennessee). Tennessee's cost-of-living index of 92 amplifies the real purchasing power.

Yes — HR Manager salaries in Tennessee grew approximately 370.0% year-over-year, from $26,277 in 2025 to $123,500 in 2026. This reflects the broader Human Resources sector's wage growth, driven by HR analytics and Workday demand.

Top-paying Tennessee metros for HR Managers: Nashville ($130K), Memphis ($114K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.

HR manager demand growing 6%. Strategic HR roles paying premiums. Tennessee's top industries include Healthcare, Manufacturing (Auto, EV), Logistics (FedEx), and the state's unemployment rate is 3.6% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.

No, Tennessee has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $123,500, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).

Hottest 2026 skills: HR analytics, Workday, DEI strategy, Talent intelligence, AI in HR. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Tennessee employers.

With SHRM-SCP and direct Workday config experience, the going rate for this role is $X. I'd like base there plus a sign-on to offset the bonus I'd be leaving on the table. Beyond base, negotiate: Sign-on bonus to offset forfeited annual bonus, SHRM / HRCI certification and renewal fees, Annual performance bonus, Executive coaching budget. Walk-away anchor for Tennessee: $114,352.