Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers Salary
The median pay for a police and sheriff's patrol officers in Tennessee is $59,280/year ($28.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $44K at the entry level to $79K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $66,028 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 29.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Tennessee?
About police and sheriff's patrol officers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for police and sheriff's patrol officers in Tennessee runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $76K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.4% 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 police and sheriff's patrol officers (10th percentile) start around $44K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $79K or more, a $36K spread from bottom to top.
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $75K | +27% | 3,630 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $69K | +16% | 4,730 |
| Cleveland | $59K | -1% | 250 |
| Clarksville | $58K | -3% | 730 |
| Knoxville | $56K | -5% | 1,860 |
| Jackson | $53K | -10% | 460 |
| Chattanooga | $51K | -13% | 730 |
| Morristown | $49K | -18% | 310 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $49K | -18% | 690 |
| Johnson City | $47K | -21% | 340 |
Compare to other states
Track police and sheriff's patrol officers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a police and sheriff's patrol officer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 29.4% 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 police and sheriff's patrol officers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new police and sheriff's patrol officers typically earn — is $44K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,611/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is police and sheriff's patrol officer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $59K here vs. $76K 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 police and sheriff's patrol officers?
Tennessee pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $76K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $66K — below the national median.
How much do police and sheriff's patrol officers make in Tennessee?
The median is $59,280 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,520, and experienced police and sheriff's patrol officers can clear $79,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,139/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 29.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a police and sheriff's patrol officers 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 police and sheriff's patrol officers salary is worth about $66,028 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do police and sheriff's patrol officers 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.