[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "how%20much%20does%20the%20state%20of%20TN%20pay%20orientation%20and%20mobility%20instructors"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "It depends a lot on the exact role (specialist vs instructor), employer (public school, state agency, private provider), years of experience, and location within Tennessee. Here are several up-to-date data points to give a ballpark, along with what affects the variation.\n\n---\n\n## Salary Data for Tennessee\n\n| Source / Role | Average Annual Salary | Hourly Rate (if available) | Notes |\n|---|---|---|---|\n| **Orientation & Mobility Specialist** (general statewide data) | **\u2248 $36,512/year** | **\u2248 $18/hour** | Based on Salary.com data for Tennessee as of June 1, 2026. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/orientation-and-mobility-specialist-salary/tn?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Orientation & Mobility Specialist** (ZipRecruiter, all of Tennessee) | **\u2248 $77,576/year** | **\u2248 $37.30/hour** | Wide range: some jobs as low as ~$27.7K, others over $100K depending on experience and setting. ([ziprecruiter.com](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Orientation-And-Mobility-Specialist-Salary--in-Tennessee?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **At Allied Instructional Services** (private provider) | \u2014 | **\u2248 $51.97/hour** | From one or two job postings. ([indeed.com](https://www.indeed.com/cmp/Allied-Instructional-Services/salaries/Orientation-and-Mobility-Specialist/Tennessee?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **Nashville, TN** (ZipRecruiter local data) | **\u2248 $82,557/year** | \u2014 | Comparable roles in the Nashville area tend to fetch higher wages, likely reflecting cost of living and local demand. ([ziprecruiter.com](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Jobs/Orientation-And-Mobility-Specialist/-in-Nashville%2CTN?utm_source=openai)) |\n| **\u201cOrientation & Mobility Instructor\u201d** (national average but with state-level data) | **\u2248 $58,261/year (Tennessee)** | \u2014 | National data pulled recently, which gives a sense of typical instructor-level pay in TN. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/salary/hiring/orientation-and-mobility-instructor-salary?utm_source=openai)) |\n\n---\n\n## Why the Numbers Vary So Much\n\nSeveral key factors lead to wide salary ranges:\n\n1. **Job title & qualification difference**  \n   \u201cOrientation & Mobility Specialist\u201d versus \u201cInstructor\u201d\u2014 sometimes these mean different levels of certification or responsibility (e.g. planning assessments vs delivering hands-on instruction).\n\n2. **Employer type**  \n   Private providers often pay more hourly under special contracts; public schools or state services may follow fixed salary schedules with lower base pay but more benefits.\n\n3. **Experience & education**  \n   More years in the field, advanced degrees/certifications, and specialized skills can push salaries into the higher ranges. Entry-level roles tend toward lower ends of the scale.\n\n4. **Location**  \n   Urban/suburban areas (like Nashville) tend to pay more than rural or nonmetro areas. Cost of living, school district budgets, and state budget allocations all play a role.\n\n---\n\n## Estimated Salary for a State of Tennessee O&M Instructor\n\nIf you're looking for a rough estimate specifically for a state-employed Orientation & Mobility Instructor in Tennessee, here\u2019s a realistic range:\n\n- **Entry-level / lower-experience roles**: ~$35,000 to $50,000/year  \n- **Mid-level (some years of experience, certification)**: ~$60,000 to $80,000/year  \n- **Highly experienced or specialized roles (urban area, supervisory responsibilities)**: $80,000 to $100,000+ per year\n\n---\n\nIf you tell me the city or school district (or whether the role is through public schools vs private agency), I can narrow the estimate more precisely for your situation."
    },
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "private%20agency%20knoxville%20and%20serounding%20counties"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s what I was able to find on private-agency (non-public school) pay for Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Instructors / Specialists around Knoxville, TN and nearby counties \u2014 plus an estimate based on what you can expect given the local market.\n\n---\n\n## What the Data Shows\n\n1. **Tennessee State Wage Data**  \n   The state-level O*NET data (for \u201c\u2026Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists\u201d) lists the following for Knoxville specifically:  \n   \u2022 A median wage of **$58,870/year**, with higher percentiles reaching up to **$116,330/year**. ([onetonline.org](https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1122.01?st=TN&utm_source=openai))  \n   \u2022 The hourly wage median in Knoxville is about **$45.43/hr**, with higher percentiles around **$55.93/hr** and lower percentiles around **$28.30/hr**. ([onetonline.org](https://www.onetonline.org/link/localwages/29-1122.01?st=TN&utm_source=openai))  \n\n2. **Salary Estimates for \u201cOrientation & Mobility Specialist/Instructor\u201d (Statewide TN)**  \n   \u2022 Salary.com reports a much lower statewide average (~$36,512/year, about **$18/hr**), citing many entry-level or public school roles. ([salary.com](https://www.salary.com/research/salary/recruiting/orientation-and-mobility-specialist-salary/tn?utm_source=openai))  \n   \u2022 ZipRecruiter puts the Tennessee median much higher\u2014around **$77,576/year**, or about **$37.30/hr**. ([ziprecruiter.com](https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Orientation-And-Mobility-Specialist-Salary--in-Tennessee?utm_source=openai))  \n\n3. **Glassdoor Reports**  \n   \u2022 For O&M Specialists more broadly, one set of salary submissions shows **$74,000-$108,000/year** as a total pay range. Median base pay is around **$89,000/year**. ([glassdoor.com](https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/orientation-and-mobility-specialist-salary-SRCH_KO0%2C35.htm?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Private Agency Context in the Knoxville Area\n\nWhile I didn\u2019t find many job postings for O&M roles at private agencies specifically in Knoxville that clearly listed pay rates, here are some relevant examples that help anchor what private agencies often pay in similar therapy or mobility-related roles:\n\n- For example, Secret City Therapy Group (home-based mobile therapy for adults/older adults) is hiring Occupational Therapists at ~$100/hr. While that\u2019s OT and not specific O&M, it shows private home-based therapy roles can command relatively high rates. ([simplyhired.com](https://www.simplyhired.com/en-US/job/3EndvgdSKzQdDRVYr_tR3AwUsdoCSpYJpZso015oJzfgR1Merb09Ow?utm_source=openai))  \n- The Tennessee Early Intervention System (TEIS)\u2019 rate sheet shows that \u201cVision Assessments/Services\u201d are reimbursed at **$78.00/hr** (plus a travel fee), which provides some benchmark for specialized vision-related services. ([tn.gov](https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/disability-and-aging/documents/disability-aging-programs/teis/therapy-vendor-services-rate-sheet-revised-7-2025-2.pdf?utm_source=openai))  \n\n---\n\n## Estimate for Private Agencies \u2014 Knoxville & Surrounding Counties\n\nGiven the above, here\u2019s what I would expect for an O&M Instructor working in a private agency (home-visits, clinics, nonprofit providers) in and around Knoxville:\n\n| Experience Level / Role | Expected Hourly Rate | Expected Annual Salary* |\n|---|---|---|\n| Entry Level / Less Certified / Part-Time | **$30-$45/hr** | ~$50,000-$75,000 |\n| Mid-Level / Certified / Full-Time Private Agency | **$45-$65/hr** | ~$75,000-$110,000 |\n| Highly Specialized / Senior O&M Instructor / Those with COMS Credential / Supervisory Responsibilities | **$65-$90+/hr** | $110,000-$135,000+ |\n\n> *These reflect private pay, not public school or state employee salaries.\n\n---\n\n## What Drives Higher vs Lower Pay Locally\n\n- **Certification** \u2013 Having a COMS (Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist) or similar advanced credentials can significantly increase what a private agency will pay.  \n- **Client Setting** \u2013 Home visits, travel, and/or working with more complex vision impairments tends to come with higher rates.  \n- **Caseload & Productivity Expectations** \u2013 Private agencies often expect higher billing hours, which tends to push up rates.  \n- **Rural vs Urban** \u2013 Travel time, cost of fuel, etc., often are factored in; agencies serving more rural parts around Knoxville might pay more per hour (or add travel stipends).  \n- **Funding Source** \u2013 Private pay vs insurance reimbursement vs contracts with state agencies all affect what the agency can pay you.  \n\n---\n\nIf you tell me the name of a specific private agency in Knoxville (or example roles you\u2019re seeing), I can try to pull up **job-postings** to see what they are actually offering. Do you want me to look up some of those?"
    }
]