Correctional Officers and Jailers Salary
Correctional Officers and Jailers in Tennessee make a median of $50,940 a year, or about $24.49 an hour. The range runs from $39K at the entry level to $63K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $56,739 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 34.3% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Tennessee?
About correctional officers and jailers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for correctional officers and jailers in Tennessee runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level correctional officers and jailers (10th percentile) start around $39K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $63K or more, a $24K spread from bottom to top.
Correctional Officers and Jailers salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $53K | +4% | 1,370 |
| Knoxville | $52K | +2% | 720 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $51K | +0% | 2,040 |
| Chattanooga | $49K | -3% | 310 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $48K | -5% | 430 |
| Clarksville | $46K | -9% | 200 |
| Jackson | $46K | -10% | 140 |
| Morristown | $43K | -15% | 100 |
| Johnson City | $41K | -20% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track correctional officers and jailers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Public Safety
Frequently asked questions
Can a correctional officers and jailer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 33.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for correctional officers and jailers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new correctional officers and jailers typically earn — is $39K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,321/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 52% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is correctional officers and jailer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $51K here vs. $59K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for correctional officers and jailers?
Tennessee pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $57K — below the national median.
How much do correctional officers and jailers make in Tennessee?
The median is $50,940 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,690, and experienced correctional officers and jailers can clear $62,790. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,581/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 33.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a correctional officers and jailers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median correctional officers and jailers salary is worth about $56,739 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do correctional officers and jailers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.