Government Jobs in Tennessee: Employers & Pay

1,028

local governments (2022)

counties

345

cities, towns and townships

449

special districts

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments — Government Organization. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Tennessee state government pay plan

Tennessee Department of Human Resources publishes the classification and pay plan for Tennessee state employees: 2,746 job classes and 168 pay grades, effective September 1, 2026. Below are the classes that match GovJobsWiki jobs, with annual ranges converted from the plan's published rates.

Job	Classes in the TN plan	Annual range
911 Dispatcher / Public Safety Telecommunicator	Communications Dispatcher 1–2 2 classes	$30,972 – $46,440
Accountant (government)	Accountant 1–3 3 classes	$48,684 – $91,752
Administrative Assistant (government)	Admin Assistant 1–3 3 classes	$43,572 – $73,188
Adult Protective Services Worker	Aps Investigative Spec 1–2 2 classes	$43,572 – $65,208
Bank / Financial Examiner	Bank Examiner 1–4, Credit Union Examiner 1–5 9 classes	$48,684 – $124,356
Budget Analyst	Budget Analyst 2 1 class	$48,684 – $73,188
Civil Engineer (DOT / city / county)	Transportation Engineer, Senior Transportation Engineer 2 classes	$78,528 – $143,220
Contract / Procurement Specialist	Procurement Officer 1–3 3 classes	$43,572 – $91,752
Correctional Counselor / Case Manager	Correctional Counselor 1–3 3 classes	$43,572 – $73,188
Correctional Officer (state prison)	Correctional Officer 1–2 2 classes	$43,572 – $73,188
Custodian (schools & public buildings)	Custodial Worker 1–2 2 classes	$25,620 – $42,228
DMV Clerk / Driver License Examiner	Driver's License Examiner 1 class	$34,752 – $51,972
Engineering Technician (DOT)	Tdot Engineering Technician 1–4, Transportation Technician 3 5 classes	$43,572 – $81,900
Environmental Compliance Inspector	Env Investigator 1 class	$67,764 – $108,060
Environmental Scientist (government)	Env Specialist 1–6, Env Protection Specialist 1–6 10 classes	$48,684 – $143,220
Epidemiologist	Epidemiologist 1–3 4 classes	$67,764 – $143,220
Fire / Arson Investigator	Tbi Fire Investigator 1 class	$61,200 – $91,752
Fish & Game Warden	Wildlife Officer 1 class	$64,056 – $99,468
Fleet Mechanic (city/county)	Equipment Mechanic 1–2 2 classes	$48,684 – $81,900
Food Safety Inspector (USDA / state)	Meat Inspector 1–2 2 classes	$38,748 – $65,208
Forester	Forester 1–3 3 classes	$43,572 – $81,900
Forestry Technician (USFS)	Forestry Aide 1–2, Forestry Technician 3 classes	$28,188 – $65,208
GIS Analyst / Specialist	Gis Analyst Int, Tdec Gis Analyst, +3 more 5 classes	$54,744 – $124,356
Government Auditor	Auditor 1–4 4 classes	$43,572 – $108,060
Grants Specialist / Manager	Grants Analyst 2–3 2 classes	$38,748 – $65,208
Health Inspector / Environmental Health Specialist	Env Health Specialist 1–6 5 classes	$48,684 – $108,060
Heavy Equipment Operator (government)	Equipment Operator 1 class	$48,684 – $73,188
Human Resources Specialist (government)	HR Generalist 1–3 3 classes	$48,684 – $143,220
IRS Revenue Agent / Tax Examiner	Tax Auditor Intermediate, Tax Auditor Advanced, Tax Auditor Principal 3 classes	$48,684 – $108,060
IT Specialist (government)	Programmer/Analyst 2–4, Systems Administrator-Int, +2 more 6 classes	$61,200 – $143,220
Judicial Law Clerk	Law Clerk 1 class	No fixed rate
Lifeguard (city / state beaches & pools)	Lifeguard 1–2 2 classes	$28,188 – $42,228
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government)	Clerk 1–3 3 classes	$25,620 – $46,440
Park Ranger (NPS / state / county)	Park Ranger 1–3 3 classes	$54,744 – $91,752
Policy / Management Analyst	Planning Analyst Intermediate, Planning Analyst Advanced, +2 more 4 classes	$54,744 – $143,220
Psychiatric Technician (state hospitals)	Psychiatric Technician 1 class	$28,188 – $42,228
Public Information Officer	Communications Specialist-Int, Communications Specialist-Adv 2 classes	$43,572 – $81,900
Social Worker (government)	Social Services Specialist 1–2, Social Worker 1–2, Psychiatric Social Worker 1–2 6 classes	$43,572 – $108,060
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer	Trooper 1 class	$75,600 – $112,344
Stationary Engineer (public facilities)	Boiler Operator 1–2 2 classes	$48,684 – $81,900
Veterans Service Officer	Veterans Service Officer, SR Veterans Service Officer 2 classes	$43,572 – $73,188
Victim Advocate	Victim Services Prog Spec 1 class	$43,572 – $65,208
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor	Voc Rehab Counselor - Masters 1 class	$48,684 – $73,188
Wildland Firefighter	Lead Firefighter 1 class	$54,744 – $81,900

Classes are matched to jobs by title (GovJobsWiki editorial rule).

Source: Tennessee Department of Human Resources, Tennessee DOHR Alpha Comp Plan (September 1, 2026). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Public employers in Tennessee

Fire departments · 164

Employer	City	Career firefighters	Website
Memphis Division of Fire Services	Memphis	1,687	Official site
Nashville Fire Department	Nashville	809	Official site
Chattanooga Fire Department	Chattanooga	404	Official site
City of Knoxville Fire Department	Knoxville	327	Official site
Clarksville Fire Rescue	Clarksville	235	Official site
City of Murfreesboro Fire Rescue Department (MFRD)	Murfreesboro	233	Official site
Shelby County Fire Department	Memphis	204	Official site
Jackson Fire Department	Jackson	185	Official site
Franklin Fire Department	Franklin	169	Official site
Wilson County Emergency Management Agency	Lebanon	130	Official site

All 164 fire departments in Tennessee →

Transit agencies · 25

Employer	City	Vehicles operated directly	Website
Metropolitan Transit Authority	Madison	196	Official site
City of Memphis	Memphis	135	Official site
South Central Tennessee Development District	Mt Pleasant	124	Official site
Mid-Cumberland Human Resource Agency	Nashville	109	Official site
Upper-Cumberland Human Resource Agency	Cookeville	102	Official site
East Tennessee Human Resource Agency, Inc.	Knoxville	83	Official site
Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency-Rural Division	Dunlap	83	Official site
Chattanooga Area Regional Transportation Authority	Chattanooga	76	Official site
City of Knoxville	Knoxville	64	Official site
First Tennessee Human Resource Agency	Johnson City	61	Official site

All 25 transit agencies in Tennessee →

School districts · 141

Employer	City	Teachers (FTE)	Website
Alamo	Alamo	Not published	Official site
Alcoa	Alcoa	Not published	Official site
Anderson County	Clinton	Not published	Official site
Arlington	Arlington	Not published	Official site
Athens	Athens	Not published	Official site
Bartlett	Bartlett	Not published	Official site
Bedford County	Shelbyville	Not published	Official site
Bells	Bells	Not published	—
Benton County	Camden	Not published	Official site
Bledsoe County	Pikeville	Not published	Official site

All 141 school districts in Tennessee →

Police departments · 249

Municipal and county police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 249 police departments in Tennessee →

Sheriff's offices · 94

County sheriff's offices in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 94 sheriff's offices in Tennessee →

Campus police departments · 26

College and university police departments in the FBI's law-enforcement agency list. Staff size is not yet collected for this kind of employer.

All 26 campus police departments in Tennessee →

Sources: U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA), National Fire Department Registry; Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database 2024 — Reporter Agency Information; National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data, 2024–25 local education agency universe (directory and staff); Federal Bureau of Investigation, Crime Data Explorer — law-enforcement agencies by state (API). Data captured September 30, 2026.

Pay for government jobs in Tennessee

Median wage in Tennessee for each job's occupation (all employers in the state), next to the national median in government. Largest occupations first.

Job	Workers in TN	Median in TN	National, government
Correctional Nurse SOC 29-1141	72,200	$81,500	$100,490
Public Health Nurse SOC 29-1141	72,200	$81,500	$100,490
School Nurse SOC 29-1141	72,200	$81,500	$100,490
VA Nurse (Veterans Affairs) SOC 29-1141	72,200	$81,500	$100,490
City / County Manager SOC 11-1021	63,720	$106,970	$137,300
IRS Customer Service Representative SOC 43-4051	59,730	$42,830	$45,860
Office Clerk / Clerk Typist (government) SOC 43-9061	49,880	$38,860	$46,170
Custodian (schools & public buildings) SOC 37-2011	38,120	$33,440	$39,640
Administrative Assistant (government) SOC 43-6014	34,580	$45,810	$48,290
School Secretary / Office Manager SOC 43-6014	34,580	$45,810	$48,290
Elementary School Teacher SOC 25-2021	28,240	$59,980	$65,310
Public School Teacher (hub) SOC 25-2021	28,240	$59,980	$65,310
Accountant (government) SOC 13-2011	27,340	$76,840	$81,390
Government Auditor SOC 13-2011	27,340	$76,840	$81,390
Paraprofessional / Teacher Aide SOC 25-9045	23,280	$29,210	$36,990
Human Resources Specialist (government) SOC 13-1071	21,460	$67,370	$80,330
ESL / ELL Teacher SOC 25-2031	21,230	$61,860	$74,220
High School Teacher SOC 25-2031	21,230	$61,860	$74,220
Parks / Grounds Maintenance Worker SOC 37-3011	18,250	$37,020	$40,080
Border Patrol Agent SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
Campus / University Police Officer SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
CBP Officer (Customs & Border Protection) SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
Deputy Sheriff SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
Federal Police Officer (VA, Pentagon, Capitol…) SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
ICE Deportation Officer SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
Police Officer SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
School Resource Officer SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
State Trooper / Highway Patrol Officer SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
Transit Police Officer SOC 33-3051	15,630	$59,280	$76,300
Policy / Management Analyst SOC 13-1111	13,700	$99,260	$96,570

Several jobs can share one occupation code.

Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — state estimates; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — national estimates by ownership. Data captured September 30, 2026.

Government jobs in Tennessee