Police Officer Hourly Pay in Nashville, TN: $34.08 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a police officer working in Nashville, TN runs $34.08 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $70,885 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 33-3051). Weighted against Nashville's regional price level (BEA RPP 96.3, 4% below national), each hour of work buys what $35.38 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $42,534 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Nashville, Tennessee, police officers earn a median hourly rate of $34.08, which is slightly below the national median hourly pay of $37.76. This pay scale reflects both entry-level and experienced officers, with an hourly range that spans from $24.50 for new recruits to $46.48 for the highest earners in the field. Given the nature of police work, many officers might find themselves working part-time hours—around three days a week—in various environments such as patrol vehicles on assigned beats, police stations for administrative tasks, or during court testimonies. This hourly rate positions Nashville's police officers competitively within the state, considering the overall cost of living index is below the national average at 96.338. These figures come from the official BLS data, projected for 2026 and reflect the current employment landscape for law enforcement in Nashville.
Police Officer Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $24.50 | $195.98 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $28.74 | $229.95 |
| Median (P50) | $34.08 | $272.66 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $37.47 | $299.78 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $46.48 | $371.84 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Nashville
Based on $34.08/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $34.08/hr, a police officer working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Nashville, TN can expect to earn approximately $70,890 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $40,898. With a cost-of-living index of 96.34 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Nashville.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Nashville
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,363.28 | $5,908 | $70,890 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $817.97 | $3,545 | $42,534 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $545.31 | $2,363 | $28,356 |
Compare PO Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Police Officer (Nashville) | $34.08 |
| Firefighter (National Avg) | $28.13 |
| Detective / Criminal Investigator (National Avg) | $45.86 |
| Correctional Officer (National Avg) | $25.24 |
| Security Guard (National Avg) | $17.32 |
Police Officers in Nashville, TN earn a median of $70,885 per year (2026 est.), which is 9.75% lower than the national median of $78,542 and 25.40% above the Tennessee state average of $56,527.
Police Officer Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $34.08/hr = $42,534/year (purchasing power: $44,151).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $70,890/year (purchasing power: $73,585).
CoL index: 96.338 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$23.98/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$33.07/hr
2026 Current Est.
$34.08/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+46.5%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Police Officers in Nashville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.06% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $23.98/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $24.86/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $24.17/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $25.47/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $28.95/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $31.83/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $33.07/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $34.08/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $35.12/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for police officers in Nashville grew 37.9% from $23.98/hr (2019) to $33.07/hr (2025). At a 3.06% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $35.12/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem police officers can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Nashville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.06% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Working as an Hourly Police Officer in Nashville
Analyzing the earning potential for part-time officers reveals a significant income difference compared to their full-time counterparts. Working a 3-day week (24 hours), a part-time police officer could expect to take home approximately $42,960 annually, a fraction of the pay for those working full-time hours. In addition, factors like mandatory overtime for court appearances or special operations typically enhance earnings by 20-50%. Extra-duty assignments—such as security and flagging jobs—can pay between $35-$75 per hour, giving officers additional opportunities to boost their income. Variations in hourly rates across different employer types further impact earning potential in Nashville. For example, federal law enforcement jobs offer a base salary that can exceed what municipal departments pay. Officers may need to consider the trade-offs between higher hourly wages without benefits and positions with lower hourly rates that include health insurance and retirement plans. Negotiating for favorable terms is critical, especially in a city where the police officer hourly pay in Nashville can be significantly influenced by the department and the nature of the work.
More salary data for Nashville, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 3.06% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for police officers in Nashville. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.06%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for police officers (SOC 33-3051).
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