Average Police Officer Salary in Nashville, TN

The average Police Officer in Nashville, TN earns $58,900 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$58900
Median Salary
$60220
vs. National
23.1% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$61139

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Nashville’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 96.338, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Police Officers actually earn in Nashville

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $41700
25th $49860
Median $60220
75th $65850
90th (top) $76790

3600 Police Officers employed in the Nashville metro.

Can a Police Officer afford a home in Nashville?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Nashville home: $383100.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$41700$16754244%
Median$60220$24195163%
Top (90th)$76790$30852681%

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Police Officer in Nashville

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and TN state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Nashville at a glance

Population684298
Median household income$75197
Median home value$383100
Median rent$1486/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)96.338
Bachelor’s degree or higher29.1%
Poverty rate13.7%

In Nashville, TN, Police Officers earn a median of $60,220 a year — about 21% below the U.S. median of $76,550. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #45.

What that pay is worth in Nashville

Local prices run 96 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $58,900 salary stretches further than the sticker number — about $61,139 in national-average buying power.

Can Police Officers afford a home in Nashville?

A typical Nashville home runs about $383,100 — 6.5 times the average Police Officer salary, a stretch against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,486/mo takes roughly 30% of gross pay — above the 30% comfort line.

The Police Officer pay ladder in Nashville

Entry-level (10th percentile) Police Officers earn about $41,700; the top 10% reach $76,790 — a $35,090 spread, moderate for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Police Officer job market in Nashville

Nashville employs roughly 3,600 Police Officers. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Nashville with other cities

See the full Police Officer salary by city ranking to weigh Nashville against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Police Officers make in Nashville?

The average Police Officer in Nashville, TN earns about $58,900 per year, 23.1% below the national average of $76,550.

What is the take-home pay for Police Officers in Nashville after taxes?

After federal and TN taxes, this $58,900 salary is worth about $49,506 a year - roughly $4,125 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 16%.

What do the highest-paid Police Officers earn in Nashville?

The top 10% of Police Officers in Nashville earn about $76,790 a year, versus about $41,700 for the bottom 10%.

Can Police Officers afford a home in Nashville?

A typical Nashville home runs about $383,100 - roughly 6.5x this salary, a stretch by the 3x rule, so budgeting discipline matters.