First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives Salary
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives in Tennessee make a median of $74,770 a year, or about $35.95 an hour. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $123K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $83,281 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 23.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $75K actually covers in Tennessee, month by month
About first-line supervisors of police and detectives
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for first-line supervisors of police and detectives in Tennessee runs about 29% below the U.S. median of $106K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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. Lower pay, lower costs, Tennessee can be a reasonable trade-off for first-line supervisors of police and detectives who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level first-line supervisors of police and detectives (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $123K or more, a $75K spread from bottom to top.
First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives salary by metro in Tennessee
9 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $94K | +26% | 1,050 |
| Memphis | $79K | +6% | 940 |
| Clarksville | $77K | +3% | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $75K | +0% | 110 |
| Chattanooga | $75K | +0% | 410 |
| Jackson | $67K | -10% | 240 |
| Morristown | $64K | -14% | 70 |
| Knoxville | $61K | -19% | 620 |
| Johnson City | $48K | -36% | 230 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a first-line supervisors of police and detectif afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $75K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for first-line supervisors of police and detectives in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new first-line supervisors of police and detectives typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,365/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is first-line supervisors of police and detectif a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 29% below the national median — $75K here vs. $106K 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 first-line supervisors of police and detectives?
Tennessee pays $75K median vs. the U.S. average of $106K — that’s -29%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $83K — below the national median.
How much do first-line supervisors of police and detectives make in Tennessee?
The median is $74,770 a year, that works out to about $36 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,720, and experienced first-line supervisors of police and detectives can clear $122,620. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,082/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 23.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a first-line supervisors of police and detectives 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 first-line supervisors of police and detectives salary is worth about $83,281 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do first-line supervisors of police and detectives 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.