PublicPay

Federal employee salaries in Tennessee

Full-time federal civilian employees with a published duty station in Tennessee earned a median of $88,701 in September 2026, 19% below the all-federal median of $109,641. That ranks #45 of 51 (50 states and DC) by median pay.

Median pay
$88,701
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$61,689–$122,933
25th–75th percentile
Employees
22,487
with published duty station
Rank
#45
of 51 by median
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Tennessee
All federal (full-time)

OPM withheld the duty-station location for 943,611 federal employees nationwide, including the entire Department of Defense civilian workforce and large parts of the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice. Those employees are not counted in any state, so state totals understate the federal presence, especially in states with large military installations.

Pay by occupation in Tennessee

The 30 largest occupations in Tennessee with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay (88 qualify in total).

Federal pay by occupation in Tennessee
Occupation Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Nurse Series 0610 2,927 $120,427 $105,862–$141,398
Contact Representative Series 0962 1,945 $61,469 $57,745–$67,896
Medical Support Assistance Series 0679 1,067 $55,185 $51,841–$59,080
Medical Officer Series 0602 946 $297,702 $267,410–$356,997
Tax Examining Series 0592 740 $52,957 $47,525–$59,319
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant Series 0303 630 $51,463 $46,842–$57,188
Social Work Series 0185 625 $113,402 $98,033–$125,080
Air Traffic Control Series 2152 588 $159,248 $118,685–$181,798
Management and Program Analysis Series 0343 528 $113,533 $92,107–$131,273
Information Technology Management Series 2210 512 $119,690 $98,459–$142,549
Veterans Claims Examining Series 0996 505 $89,508 $72,500–$106,437
Social Insurance Administration Series 0105 452 $94,597 $84,638–$107,411
Practical Nurse Series 0620 445 $71,680 $66,142–$80,417
Miscellaneous Administration and Program Series 0301 405 $84,638 $74,070–$110,274
Pharmacist Series 0660 398 $177,389 $165,243–$195,289
Nursing Assistant Series 0621 389 $53,922 $49,571–$58,496
Human Resources Management Series 0201 347 $107,411 $92,491–$125,668
Custodial Working Series 3566 326 $42,784 $39,611–$44,390
General Business and Industry Series 1101 259 $82,148 $67,476–$113,533
Financial Clerical and Assistance Series 0503 233 $55,506 $49,950–$58,871
Financial Administration and Program Series 0501 225 $82,148 $72,012–$104,427
General Health Science Series 0601 216 $89,508 $84,638–$112,373
Health Aid and Technician Series 0640 215 $57,517 $52,957–$63,884
General Legal and Kindred Administration Series 0901 197 $72,012 $65,838–$79,658
Psychology Series 0180 189 $159,321 $143,692–$169,802
Diagnostic Radiologic Technologist Series 0647 188 $92,152 $84,679–$98,990
Pharmacy Technician Series 0661 164 $63,879 $58,555–$68,411
General Attorney Series 0905 162 $142,549 $113,456–$170,138
Transportation Specialist Series 2101 155 $106,578 $94,794–$121,021
Contracting Series 1102 153 $116,362 $97,087–$134,162

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Pay by agency in Tennessee

Federal pay by agency in Tennessee
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Veterans Affairs 13,099 $90,590 $61,722–$125,080
Department of the Treasury 3,844 $63,917 $55,882–$82,148
Department of Agriculture 1,333 $80,243 $67,896–$101,443
Department of Transportation 988 $134,162 $104,508–$169,143
Social Security Administration 782 $89,618 $74,678–$110,395
Department of the Interior 666 $73,116 $51,090–$101,443
Department of Energy 353 $138,370 $118,236–$163,514
Department of Health and Human Services 288 $117,081 $98,459–$134,822
Department of Commerce 273 $127,725 $98,459–$161,030
Department of Justice 212 $95,357 $79,828–$120,629
Department of Homeland Security 206 $110,395 $87,128–$134,162
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 77 $147,682 $91,726–$184,148
Department of Labor 67 $116,362 $98,459–$138,356
General Services Administration 51 $113,533 $98,459–$127,725
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 50 $105,432 $80,280–$129,499
Department of Housing and Urban Development 46 $126,750 $109,985–$138,370

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Change since September 2025

The median moved +7.1% from $82,859 in September 2025 to $88,701 in September 2026. Headcount went from 24,709 to 22,487 (−9.0%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

States with similar median federal pay

All states ranked →