Firefighters pay range in Nashville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,060 a year or less, while the top 10% make $71,910 or more. The middle half of firefighters in Nashville earn between $45,820 and $59,630.
- $37K10th
- $46K25th
- $49KMedian
- $60K75th
- $72K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $53,290 | $4,441 | $25.62 |
| Median | $49,300 | $4,108 | $23.70 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $45,820 | $3,818 | $22.03 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,630 | $4,969 | $28.67 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Firefighters pay in Nashville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Firefighters in Nashville earn 3% more than the Tennessee average ($51,590) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($63,630). At the median the gap is -17% against the U.S. median of $59,280.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $53,290 | $49,300 | $37,060 | $71,910 | 2,170 |
| 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 Nashville
On the average salary of $53,290, a single filer in Nashville takes home about $44,999 a year, or $3,750 a month and $1,731 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Nashville a good place for firefighters? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Nashville area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.3), so the average $53,290 buys what about $55,316 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Nashville ($50,390). A typical home costs $455,958, or 8.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Firefighters salary in other Tennessee cities
Nashville ranks 3rd 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 Nashville: questions
How much do firefighters make an hour in Nashville?
$25.62 an hour on average, and $23.70 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level firefighters salary in Nashville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,060 a year and the 25th percentile is $45,820, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the firefighters take-home pay in Nashville?
About $44,999 a year ($3,750 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $53,290. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do firefighters earn more in Nashville than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN (34980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.9%.
- 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 0.89, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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