How Much Do Firefighters Make in Tennessee? 2026 Salary Data

Nationally, firefighters make $63,630 a year on average. See how much firefighters make in every state, ranked.

If you're considering a career in firefighting in Tennessee, one of the first questions you probably have is about pay. How much do firefighters actually make in Tennessee? Is it enough to support a family? And how does it compare to what firefighters earn in other states?

Right now, Tennessee fire departments are advertising a median starting salary of $53,560 across 9 openings on FireJobs (updated Oct 7, 2026). For the full picture, we pair that with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey (May 2025, published 2026), the official average pay for every firefighter in Tennessee. Let's break it all down.

The average firefighter salary in Tennessee is $51,590 per year (BLS, May 2025, published 2026), which is below the national average of $63,630. Tennessee ranks #33 out of 50 states for firefighter pay. Entry level firefighters can expect to earn around $33,910, while the most experienced firefighters earn up to $70,460 annually.

What Departments Are Posting Now (FireJobs, as of October 2026)

The median advertised starting salary across 9 current firefighter postings in Tennessee is $53,560, ranging from $41,074 to $70,951.

Recent postings:

Department	Position	Posted pay (yearly)	Listed
Brentwood Fire & Rescue Department	Certified Firefighter	$57,738 to $72,731	Sep 30
Memphis Division of Fire Services	Paramedic Probationary (FC 132)	$70,951	Sep 28
Memphis Division of Fire Services	Advance EMT Probationary (FC 132)	$59,139	Sep 28
Memphis Division of Fire Services	EMT Probationary (FC 132)	$56,622	Sep 28
Catons Chapel Richardson Cove Volunteer Fire Department	Firefighter	$53,560 to $58,060	Sep 19

See all current firefighter openings in Tennessee on FireJobs

These are advertised starting salaries in current full time, entry level firefighter job postings, not averages of what firefighters earn. Posted pay often excludes overtime and incentives, and the BLS figures below include experienced firefighters, so the two numbers measure different things.

Live postings: FireJobs, updated Oct 7, 2026

How Much Do Firefighters Make in Tennessee?

Here are the key numbers for firefighters in Tennessee, straight from the BLS:

Metric	Tennessee	National
Average (mean) annual salary	$51,590	$63,630
Median annual salary	$49,300	$59,280
Entry level (10th percentile)	$33,910	$34,910
Top earners (90th percentile)	$70,460	$101,040
Firefighters employed	7,020	,

Federal data: BLS, May 2025 (published 2026)

The median is often the more useful number. Half of Tennessee firefighters earn more than $49,300 and half earn less. The average gets pulled around by a small number of very high earners in the biggest departments.

Firefighter Salary Breakdown in Tennessee

Entry level: Around $33,910. This is what a probationary firefighter at a smaller or rural department can expect in year one.
Mid career: Around $49,300. Most firefighters with five to ten years on the job land in this range.
Experienced / senior: Up to $70,460 and beyond. Top step firefighters, engineers, and lieutenants at the largest departments, especially with overtime and paramedic pay, sit here.

Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga run the big career departments, and Nashville's growth has pushed its suburban departments to raise pay. Much of rural Tennessee is volunteer.

Tennessee vs. National Average

At $51,590, the average Tennessee firefighter earns about $12,040 (19%) less than the national average of $63,630. That puts Tennessee at #33 of 50 states. For comparison, California leads the country at $95,090 and the lowest paying state comes in at $36,610.

Tennessee has no state income tax and a below average cost of living, though Nashville housing has become expensive.

Factors That Affect Firefighter Pay in Tennessee

Department size and location. Big city departments pay the most. The largest employers are in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro.
Union representation. Tennessee is a right to work state without formal collective bargaining for firefighters, but the major cities have active IAFF locals that negotiate through city councils.
Certifications. Paramedic certification is the single biggest pay bump for most firefighters, often adding $5,000 to $15,000 a year. Hazmat, technical rescue, and driver/operator certifications add more.
Overtime. Most departments run 24 hour shifts, and overtime, holiday pay, and call back pay can add 10% to 30% on top of base salary.
Rank. Promotion to engineer, lieutenant, captain, and chief officer each brings a meaningful raise. Chief officers in Tennessee's large departments earn well into six figures.

How to Become a Firefighter in Tennessee

The basic path is the same everywhere: meet the age and education requirements, pass a written test and the CPAT physical ability test, clear a background check and medical exam, and complete a fire academy. Many Tennessee departments strongly prefer or require EMT certification, and paramedic certification makes you a much stronger candidate.

We have a full step by step guide: How to Become a Firefighter in Tennessee.

Is Being a Firefighter in Tennessee Worth It?

Pay is only part of the picture. Firefighters in Tennessee typically get a defined benefit pension, employer paid health insurance, and a schedule that leaves plenty of days off for family or a second job. Against that you have to weigh the physical toll, the exposure to trauma, and the long term health risks that come with the job. For most people who want this career, the answer is still yes. Just go in with realistic numbers.

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