The average salary for a sheriff in Tennessee is around $59,280 per year.
Avg Salary
Sheriffs earn an average yearly salary of $59,280.
Wages typically start from $43,520 and go up to $79,480.
6% below national average Updated in 2025
Sheriff earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$38.21 per hour
$79,480 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$36.26 per hour
$75,410 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$28.50 per hour
$59,280 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level sheriff earnings begin at:
$23.42 per hour
$48,710 per year
10th percentile
Starting level sheriff earnings begin at:
$20.93 per hour
$43,520 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Sheriff salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $99,130 |
| Colorado | $97,350 |
| Delaware | $92,970 |
| New York | $92,790 |
| New Jersey | $92,610 |
| District of Columbia | $88,650 |
| Oregon | $88,140 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,470 |
| Hawaii | $83,820 |
| Minnesota | $83,360 |
| Connecticut | $82,170 |
| Massachusetts | $78,940 |
| Arizona | $78,880 |
| Nevada | $78,140 |
| Wisconsin | $78,090 |
| Maryland | $77,970 |
| Utah | $77,310 |
| Rhode Island | $77,230 |
| Ohio | $77,020 |
| Texas | $75,900 |
| Nebraska | $74,620 |
| North Dakota | $74,500 |
| Florida | $74,470 |
| Iowa | $74,470 |
| Michigan | $73,730 |
| Indiana | $73,370 |
| New Hampshire | $71,640 |
| Montana | $70,050 |
| New Mexico | $69,180 |
| Vermont | $68,910 |
| Maine | $67,050 |
| Idaho | $66,990 |
| Wyoming | $66,140 |
| Virginia | $65,870 |
| South Dakota | $60,740 |
| Kentucky | $60,490 |
| Oklahoma | $59,700 |
| Missouri | $59,460 |
| North Carolina | $59,300 |
| Tennessee | $59,280 |
| Kansas | $59,230 |
| Georgia | $58,120 |
| South Carolina | $58,070 |
| West Virginia | $56,960 |
| Alabama | $51,270 |
| Louisiana | $48,380 |
| Arkansas | $47,670 |
| Mississippi | $46,140 |
| Puerto Rico | $45,500 |
| California | $118,880 |
| Washington | $102,080 |
| Illinois | $100,520 |
How do sheriff salaries compare to similar careers?
Sheriffs earn about the same as related careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than fish and game wardens but more than correctional officers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Fish and game warden salary | $76K |
| Forensic science technician salary | $70K |
| Coroner salary | $64K |
| Arbitrator salary | $62K |
| Private detective salary | $49K |
| Sheriff salary | $59K |
| Police officer salary | $59K |
| Paralegal salary | $59K |
| Probation officer salary | $58K |
| Correctional officer salary | $51K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)