Firefighter Salary in Nashville, TN
Firefighters in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median $49,300 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $41,793 take-home, or $3,483 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median firefighter salary in Nashville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,736
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,057
- Medicare (1.45%)$715
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$41,793
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Firefighter pay by experience in Nashville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,060 | $17.82 | $31,958 | $2,663 |
| 25th percentile | $45,820 | $22.03 | $38,996 | $3,250 |
| Median (50th) | $49,300 | $23.70 | $41,793 | $3,483 |
| 75th percentile | $59,630 | $28.67 | $50,093 | $4,174 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $71,910 | $34.57 | $59,419 | $4,952 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,300 buys in Nashville, TN
Prices in Nashville, TN are 3.7% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.05× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median firefighter's $41,793 take-home pay has the buying power of $43,381 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 Nashville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for firefighters, adjusted for cost of living
Nashville, TN ranks #82 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 |
| 82 | Nashville, TN | $49,300 | $41,793 | $43,381 |
*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
- Knoxville, TN — $47,160
- Chattanooga, TN — $46,060
Frequently asked questions
How much does a firefighter make in Nashville, TN?
The median firefighter salary in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $49,300 a year, or about $23.70 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,820 and $59,630.
What is a firefighter’s take-home pay in Nashville, TN?
On the median $49,300 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $41,793 a year ($3,483 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Nashville, TN a good place to work as a firefighter?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $59,280. Local prices are 3.7% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $43,381 would in a typical U.S. city. Nashville, TN ranks #82 of 133 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a firefighter afford rent in Nashville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Nashville, TN is $1,530 a month ($1,685 for two bedrooms) — 44% of a median firefighter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Nashville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives — $94,420
- First-Line Supervisor of Firefighting and Prevention Workers — $80,720
- Detective and Criminal Investigator — $78,460
- Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officer — $68,780
- Transportation Security Screener — $61,110
- Correctional Officer and Jailer — $50,940
- First-Line Supervisor of Security Workers — $47,600
- Crossing Guard and Flagger — $41,600
- Security Guard — $37,010
- Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers — $28,500