Geospatial Analyst / GIS.
Nashville.
$73,000
median salary, at the national average
$56,000 to $96,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Nashville is 0% cheaper than the national average. For Geospatial Analyst / GISs, that shakes out to a median of $73,000, with the full range spanning $56,000 to $96,000. Industry application drives the widest pay variation, with defense, oil and gas, and tech companies paying 20 to 35% more than government or environmental consulting. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
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How Nashville compares
Nashville, TN
$73,000
Cost of living: at average
National Average
$73,000
Same as local rate
What you should know
The Geospatial Analyst / GIS landscape in Nashville is not what most salary sites will tell you. Nashville has diversified well beyond music into healthcare, finance, and technology. The city is home to HCA Healthcare and a growing corridor of health tech startups. Nashville's moderate cost of living, combined with Tennessee's lack of state income tax on wages, makes it increasingly popular for corporate relocations and remote workers. Industry application drives the widest pay variation, with defense, oil and gas, and tech companies paying 20 to 35% more than government or environmental consulting. Proficiency in Python, R, and cloud-based geospatial platforms boosts earnings significantly. Remote sensing and LiDAR processing skills add notable premiums.
Junior GIS analysts start at $56,000 to $65,000. Senior geospatial analysts earn $73,000 to $96,000 after four to six years. GIS managers and geospatial directors reach $100,000 to $135,000, with principal spatial data scientists at tech firms exceeding $150,000. In Nashville, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Government GIS roles offer stable benefits, pension, and step increases. Defense contractors add clearance pay of $5,000 to $15,000. Tech companies working on mapping, autonomous vehicles, or logistics offer equity grants and 10 to 15% bonuses. And on the tax side: tennessee has no state income tax on wages or salaries. This gives Nashville workers a meaningful take home advantage over peers in states with 5 to 10% income tax rates. When someone quotes you $73,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Use the healthcare industry concentration as leverage. Nashville healthcare employers are accustomed to national pay scales and will often match or beat coastal health sector offers. The range for Geospatial Analyst / GISs in Nashville runs from $56,000 to $96,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Nashville
Negotiating in Nashville
Use the healthcare industry concentration as leverage. Nashville healthcare employers are accustomed to national pay scales and will often match or beat coastal health sector offers.