Firefighters Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$33,910
- 25th Percentile — Junior$39,360
- 50th Percentile — Median$49,300
- 75th Percentile — Senior$61,670
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$70,460
Half of Firefighters in Tennessee earn more than $49,300. The top 10% make $70,460 or more, while entry-level workers start around $33,910.
Firefighters in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 33rd of 50 states for Firefighters pay, at $51,590 per year (18.9% below the U.S. average of $63,630).
- 7,020 people work as Firefighters in Tennessee — 2.0% of all U.S. Firefighters jobs.
- Location quotient 0.96: Firefighters jobs are less concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $33,910; the top 10% earn over $70,460.
- Hourly equivalent: $24.8 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $95,090.
- Among public safety jobs in Tennessee, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($87,790).
Firefighters Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Firefighters here earn $51,590 on average, placing the state 33rd nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $51,590 is roughly equivalent to $58,625 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Missouri ($55,240), Idaho ($54,470), Delaware ($53,420) are the closest alternatives for Firefighters 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 +70.2% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $79,340/yr Tennessee +53.8% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $75,780/yr Tennessee +46.9% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $63,810/yr Tennessee +23.7% vs this role
- Police Officers $61,830/yr Tennessee +19.8% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $51,420/yr Tennessee 0.3% vs this role
- Security Guards $38,500/yr Tennessee 25.4% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Firefighters salary in Tennessee?
The average Firefighters salary in Tennessee is $51,590 per year (median $49,300), which is 18.9% below the national average of $63,630.
How does Tennessee rank for Firefighters pay?
Tennessee ranks 33rd out of 50 states. The highest-paying state is California ($95,090/yr).
How much do entry-level Firefighters make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Firefighters in Tennessee earn about $33,910 per year and the 25th percentile is $39,360.
How much do Firefighters make per hour in Tennessee?
About $24.8 per hour, based on the $51,590 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Firefighters work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 7,020 Firefighters jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
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