Correctional Officers and Jailers Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$38,690
- 25th Percentile — Junior$46,750
- 50th Percentile — Median$50,940
- 75th Percentile — Senior$57,740
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$62,790
Half of Correctional Officers and Jailers in Tennessee earn more than $50,940. The top 10% make $62,790 or more, while entry-level workers start around $38,690.
Correctional Officers and Jailers in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 38th of 49 states for Correctional Officers and Jailers pay, at $51,420 per year (19.2% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 6,990 people work as Correctional Officers and Jailers in Tennessee — 1.8% of all U.S. Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs.
- Location quotient 0.87: Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs are less concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,690; the top 10% earn over $62,790.
- Hourly equivalent: $24.72 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $92,410.
- Among public safety jobs in Tennessee, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($87,790).
Correctional Officers and Jailers Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Correctional Officers and Jailers here earn $51,420 on average, placing the state 38th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $51,420 is roughly equivalent to $58,432 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Texas ($53,330), South Dakota ($53,260), Montana ($52,980) are the closest alternatives for Correctional Officers and Jailers weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Public Safety Jobs in Tennessee
Related career salary benchmarks
- Detectives and Criminal Investigators $87,790/yr Tennessee +70.7% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $79,340/yr Tennessee +54.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $75,780/yr Tennessee +47.4% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $63,810/yr Tennessee +24.1% vs this role
- Police Officers $61,830/yr Tennessee +20.2% vs this role
- Firefighters $51,590/yr Tennessee +0.3% vs this role
- Security Guards $38,500/yr Tennessee 25.1% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Tennessee?
The average Correctional Officers and Jailers salary in Tennessee is $51,420 per year (median $50,940), which is 19.2% below the national average of $63,630.
How does Tennessee rank for Correctional Officers and Jailers pay?
Tennessee ranks 38th out of 49 states. The highest-paying state is California ($92,410/yr).
How much do entry-level Correctional Officers and Jailers make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Correctional Officers and Jailers in Tennessee earn about $38,690 per year and the 25th percentile is $46,750.
How much do Correctional Officers and Jailers make per hour in Tennessee?
About $24.72 per hour, based on the $51,420 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Correctional Officers and Jailers work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 6,990 Correctional Officers and Jailers jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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