Police Officer Salary

Knoxville vs Mount Juliet: Police Officer Salary (2026)

Compare police officer salaries between Knoxville, TN and Mount Juliet, TN. All figures are 2026 estimates projected from BLS 2025 data.

Knoxville, TN
$58,105
$27.94/hr
Mount Juliet, TN
$54,102
$26.01/hr

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricKnoxville, TNMount Juliet, TN
Median Salary$58,105$54,102
Hourly Rate$27.94$26.01
Entry Level (P10)$45,171$35,960
25th Percentile$49,005$43,256
75th Percentile$64,474$69,251
Top Earner (P90)$79,758$79,143
Total Employed1,8609
Side-by-side bar chart comparing Knoxville ($58,105) and Mount Juliet ($54,102) police officer salaries.KnoxvilleMount JulietMedian Salary$58,105$54,102Entry Level (P10)$45,171$35,960Top Earner (P90)$79,758$79,143US Median $78,542

Verdict

Knoxville, TN offers better overall compensation for police officers, winning 4 out of 4 metrics compared to Mount Juliet.

The salary gap between Knoxville and Mount Juliet is $4,003 (7.40%). Knoxville's median is -26.02% compared to the US national median of $78,542.

Salary Range Comparison

The full salary range (10th to 90th percentile) in Knoxville spans $34,587,Mount Juliet spans $43,183. Mount Juliet has a wider pay range, suggesting more variation in pay between entry-level and experienced police officers.

Knoxville
P10 (Entry)$45,171
P25$49,005
Median$58,105
P75$64,474
P90 (Top)$79,758
Mount Juliet
P10 (Entry)$35,960
P25$43,256
Median$54,102
P75$69,251
P90 (Top)$79,143

Cost-of-Living Adjusted Comparison

After cost-of-living adjustment, Knoxville ($62,769 effective) pays 6.51% more than Mount Juliet ($58,935 effective).

Knoxville
Nominal: $58,105
CoL Index: 92.569
Adjusted: $62,769
Mount Juliet
Nominal: $54,102
CoL Index: 91.8
Adjusted: $58,935

Cost-of-living adjustment: salary × (100 / CoL index). Index of 100 = national average.

Which City Is Right for You?

Choose Knoxville if…

  • Higher median salary ($58,105/year)
  • Better top-earner potential ($79,758)
  • Larger job market (1,860 employed)
  • Better purchasing power (CoL-adjusted: $62,769)
  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Choose Mount Juliet if…

  • You prefer the Tennessee area and lifestyle

Historical Salary Growth Comparison

Based on BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, police officer salaries in Knoxville grew 42.5% from 2019 to 2025, compared to 3.0% growth in Mount Juliet over the same period.

Knoxville, TN

+42.5%

$39,560 (2019) → $56,380 (2025)

Mount Juliet, TN

+3.0%

$50,959 (2024) → $52,496 (2025)

View Full Salary Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Which city pays police officers more: Knoxville or Mount Juliet?

Knoxville has a higher median police officer salary at $58,105/year, compared to Mount Juliet at $54,102/year — a difference of $4,003 (7.40%).

What is the hourly rate difference between Knoxville and Mount Juliet?

Knoxville police officers earn $27.94/hr while Mount Juliet hygienists earn $26.01/hr (2026 est.).

Should I relocate from Knoxville to Mount Juliet as a police officer?

Consider more than just salary when comparing Knoxville and Mount Juliet. Factor in cost of living (CoL-adjusted: Knoxville = $62,769, Mount Juliet = $58,935), job availability (1,860 vs 9 employed), commute, and career growth potential.

What do entry-level police officers earn in Knoxville vs Mount Juliet?

Entry-level (10th percentile) police officers earn $45,171 in Knoxville and $35,960 in Mount Juliet. The Knoxville area offers higher starting salaries.

Related Comparisons

JL

Written by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice

Career Analyst

Jordan Lee has over 10 years of experience in law enforcement. They specialize in community policing strategies. Jordan works with a municipal police department.

Methodology & Data Source

All salary figures are 2026 projections based on BLS OEWS May 2025 data. A 3.06% CAGR (derived from 6-year national BLS trends) was applied to estimate current compensation. Cost-of-living adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parity data. Actual salaries vary by employer, certifications, and experience.

Data Sources & Methodology

Source: BLS, OEWS , released .

Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, BA Criminal Justice, a licensed police officer with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov