Firefighter Salary in Knoxville, TN
Firefighters in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $47,160 a year — 20% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $40,073 take-home, or $3,339 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,479
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,924
- Medicare (1.45%)$684
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$40,073
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,790 | $15.28 | $27,723 | $2,310 |
| 25th percentile | $37,660 | $18.11 | $32,440 | $2,703 |
| Median (50th) | $47,160 | $22.67 | $40,073 | $3,339 |
| 75th percentile | $60,450 | $29.06 | $50,752 | $4,229 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,450 | $33.87 | $58,392 | $4,866 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $47,160 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $40,073 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,290 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Firefighter jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #83 of 133 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $152,100 | $103,333 | $93,580 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $101,090 | $79,947 | $71,938 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $113,700 | $80,995 | $70,057 |
| 4 | New York, NY | $106,420 | $78,458 | $69,701 |
| 5 | Rochester, NY | $89,120 | $67,308 | $69,365 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $83,310 | $67,439 | $67,206 |
| 7 | Reno, NV | $81,360 | $66,067 | $65,404 |
| 8 | Sacramento, CA | $94,080 | $69,272 | $64,941 |
| 83 | Knoxville, TN | $47,160 | $40,073 | $43,290 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 133 metros →
Firefighter salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $62,910
- Nashville, TN — $49,300
- Chattanooga, TN — $46,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Knoxville, TN?
The median firefighter salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $47,160 a year, or about $22.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,660 and $60,450.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $47,160 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $40,073 a year ($3,339 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 20% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,290 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #83 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 34% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $60,800
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $56,380
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $52,040
- Security Guard — $35,810