What a safety / EHS manager earns in Tennessee — an estimated median of about $86,000 per year — plus who regulates workplace safety in the state and how to push your pay higher.
Safety and EHS managers in Tennessee earn an estimated median of about $86,000 per year, with most positions falling between $67,080 and $116,100. The estimate is anchored on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES, May 2024 release) national median for occupational health & safety specialists — $83,910 (SOC 19-5011) — scaled to Tennessee’s wage level. Actual pay depends on industry, employer size, certifications and years of experience. A wave of automotive and EV/battery manufacturing investment, Memphis’s role as a global logistics hub, and a large Nashville-centered healthcare industry all support demand for the role, and the state’s lack of a state income tax on wages helps stretch a given salary further.
Tennessee runs its own OSHA-approved State Plan, administered by TOSHA (Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration). It covers both private-sector and state/local government employers and can set standards at least as protective as federal OSHA, so safety managers here work with a state regulator rather than a federal-only regional office.
EHS and safety-manager roles in Tennessee concentrate around Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville: Nashville for its hospital-system and healthcare-corporate base (including HCA Healthcare’s headquarters), Memphis for its logistics and air-freight operations built around FedEx’s global hub, and the automotive and EV/battery plants spread across Middle and East Tennessee.
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What does a safety manager earn in Tennessee?
Safety and EHS managers in Tennessee earn an estimated median of about $86,000 per year, with a typical range of $67,080 to $116,100 depending on industry, employer size, certifications and experience. The estimate is anchored on BLS OES national data scaled to Tennessee’s wage level.
Does Tennessee have its own OSHA program?
Yes. Tennessee runs its own OSHA-approved State Plan, administered by TOSHA, covering both private-sector and state/local government employers and able to set standards at least as strict as federal OSHA.
What industries drive safety-manager hiring in Tennessee?
Automotive and EV/battery manufacturing (Nissan in Smyrna, Volkswagen in Chattanooga, GM in Spring Hill) is a major driver, alongside Memphis’s role as a global logistics and air-freight hub and Nashville’s large hospital-system and healthcare-corporate employment base.
How can I increase my safety-manager salary in Tennessee?
Target automotive/EV manufacturing, logistics or healthcare-system employers, earn a BCSP credential such as the CSP, and move into multi-site or director-level scope. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages. Use the free salary estimator to model your own number.
Salary figures are estimates derived from BLS national OES data scaled to state wage levels — not a guarantee or an offer. Verify current local data with BLS and employers. ← All states · Home