Paramedics Salary
The median pay for a paramedics in Tennessee is $57,690/year ($27.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $41K at the entry level to $80K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $64,257 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 30.3% 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 $58K get you in Tennessee?
About paramedics
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Paramedics pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $61K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.1% 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. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level paramedics (10th percentile) start around $41K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $80K or more, a $39K spread from bottom to top.
Paramedics salary by metro in Tennessee
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $67K | +16% | 810 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $63K | +10% | 1,310 |
| Clarksville | $60K | +5% | 130 |
| Chattanooga | $53K | -8% | 270 |
| Jackson | $52K | -11% | 100 |
| Knoxville | $51K | -11% | 380 |
| Johnson City | $49K | -15% | 100 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $47K | -18% | 160 |
Compare to other states
Track paramedics salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a paramedic afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 30.1% 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 $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for paramedics in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new paramedics typically earn — is $41K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,485/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is paramedic a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $61K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for paramedics?
Tennessee pays $58K median vs. the U.S. average of $61K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do paramedics make in Tennessee?
The median is $57,690 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,410, and experienced paramedics can clear $80,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,033/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 30.1% 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 paramedics 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 paramedics salary is worth about $64,257 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do paramedics 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.