Police Officers Pay Range in Tennessee
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$43,520
- 25th Percentile — Junior$48,710
- 50th Percentile — Median$59,280
- 75th Percentile — Senior$75,410
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$79,480
Half of Police Officers in Tennessee earn more than $59,280. The top 10% make $79,480 or more, while entry-level workers start around $43,520.
Police Officers in Tennessee: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Tennessee ranks 41st of 51 states for Police Officers pay, at $61,830 per year (21.9% below the U.S. average of $79,200).
- 15,630 people work as Police Officers in Tennessee — 2.3% of all U.S. Police Officers jobs.
- Location quotient 1.11: Police Officers jobs are more concentrated in Tennessee than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $43,520; the top 10% earn over $79,480.
- Hourly equivalent: $29.73 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is California at $112,980.
- Among public safety jobs in Tennessee, Detectives and Criminal Investigators pays the most ($87,790).
Police Officers Job Market in Tennessee
Key factors affecting compensation
Tennessee's key industries are Healthcare, Manufacturing, Tourism, and its job market is rated strong. Police Officers here earn $61,830 on average, placing the state 41st nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.88 (U.S. = 1.00), a Tennessee salary of $61,830 is roughly equivalent to $70,261 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, New Mexico ($66,700), South Dakota ($64,320), Oklahoma ($63,120) are the closest alternatives for Police Officers 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 +42.0% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Police $79,340/yr Tennessee +28.3% vs this role
- First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting $75,780/yr Tennessee +22.6% vs this role
- Private Detectives and Investigators $63,810/yr Tennessee +3.2% vs this role
- Firefighters $51,590/yr Tennessee 16.6% vs this role
- Correctional Officers and Jailers $51,420/yr Tennessee 16.8% vs this role
- Security Guards $38,500/yr Tennessee 37.7% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Police Officers salary in Tennessee?
The average Police Officers salary in Tennessee is $61,830 per year (median $59,280), which is 21.9% below the national average of $79,200.
How does Tennessee rank for Police Officers pay?
Tennessee ranks 41st out of 51 states. The highest-paying state is California ($112,980/yr).
How much do entry-level Police Officers make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid 10% of Police Officers in Tennessee earn about $43,520 per year and the 25th percentile is $48,710.
How much do Police Officers make per hour in Tennessee?
About $29.73 per hour, based on the $61,830 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Police Officers work in Tennessee?
BLS counts 15,630 Police Officers jobs in Tennessee (OEWS May 2025).
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data