Firefighters pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,790 a year or less, while the top 10% make $70,450 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Knoxville earn between $37,660 and $60,450.
- $32K10th
- $38K25th
- $47KMedian
- $60K75th
- $70K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $49,910 | $4,159 | $24.00 |
| Median | $47,160 | $3,930 | $22.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $37,660 | $3,138 | $18.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $60,450 | $5,038 | $29.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Firefighters in Knoxville earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($51,590) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $49,910 | $47,160 | $31,790 | $70,450 | 970 |
| Tennessee | $51,590 | $49,300 | $33,910 | $70,460 | 7,020 |
| United States | $63,630 | $59,280 | $34,910 | $101,040 | 345,990 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Firefighters salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $49,910, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $42,283 a year, or $3,524 a month and $1,626 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $49,910 buys what about $53,917 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 7.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 4th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($57,560).
- Memphis$57,560
- Clarksville$53,290
- Nashville$53,290
- Knoxville$49,910
- Chattanooga$48,660
- Kingsport$43,600
- Johnson City$40,300
- Morristown$39,570
- Jackson$36,830
Highest-paying cities for firefighters
Bakersfield, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($199,490).
- Bakersfield, CA$199,490
- San Jose, CA$134,270
- San Francisco, CA$110,590
- Los Angeles, CA$108,860
- Seattle, WA$100,450
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Firefighters salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Knoxville?
$23.99 an hour on average, and $22.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,790 a year and the 25th percentile is $37,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $42,283 a year ($3,524 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $49,910. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do firefighters earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% less than the U.S. average for this job ($63,630).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 33-2011; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.03, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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