Firefighters Salary
Firefighters in Tennessee make a median of $49,300 a year, or about $23.7 an hour. The range runs from $34K at the entry level to $70K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $54,912 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 34.2% 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 $49K get you in Tennessee?
About firefighters
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for firefighters in Tennessee runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $59K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 35% 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 firefighters (10th percentile) start around $34K. Mid-career wages sit at $49K. Top earners bring in $70K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Firefighters salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $63K | +28% | 1,660 |
| Clarksville | $55K | +11% | 300 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $49K | +0% | 2,170 |
| Knoxville | $47K | -4% | 970 |
| Chattanooga | $46K | -7% | 560 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $44K | -11% | 270 |
| Johnson City | $41K | -17% | 100 |
| Jackson | $36K | -27% | 230 |
| Morristown | $36K | -27% | 120 |
Compare to other states
Track firefighters 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 firefighter afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $49K, rent takes 35% 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 $1,000/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for firefighters in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new firefighters typically earn — is $34K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,035/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 60% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is firefighter a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $49K 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 firefighters?
Tennessee pays $49K median vs. the U.S. average of $59K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $55K — below the national median.
How much do firefighters make in Tennessee?
The median is $49,300 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,910, and experienced firefighters can clear $70,460. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $49K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,471/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 35% 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 firefighters 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 firefighters salary is worth about $54,912 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do firefighters 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.