The County Technical Assistance Service (CTAS) prepares a salary schedule each year showing the minimum compensation for each official according to statutory formulas, by population classification. The CTAS salary schedule assumes that all officials receive the minimum compensation. However, in some counties, officials may be paid more than the statutory minimum. The county legislative body may set salaries above the minimum listed below.

NOTE: The annualized general increase tied to the increase in state employees’ compensation shall not exceed five percent (5%) in any given year per T.C.A. § 8-24-102(d).

The table below contains salary schedules from FY2022 to current. Use the dropdown on the table's upper left to change fiscal years. We no longer produce a PDF document of salary schedules, but an archive of FY2021 and prior schedules is available here.

Memorandum from Department of Finance & Administration

Memorandum from Administrative Office of the Courts on General Sessions Judges Revised COLA

County Officials

Compensation for most county officials is governed by T.C.A. § 8-24-102, which establishes minimum salaries for various officials, with annual adjustments based on state employee compensation increases. The commissioner of finance and administration certifies the average increase by May 1 each year.

Mayors/Executives

The county mayor’s salary must be at least 5% higher than any other county constitutional officer (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(e)). If a sheriff receives more than the statutory minimum, the mayor must earn at least 5% more than that salary.

Highway Officials

The chief administrative officer of the county highway department must earn at least 10% more than the general officers (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(g)). Shelby, Davidson, Knox, and Hamilton Counties are exempt from the County Uniform Highway Law.

Sheriffs

Sheriffs must earn at least 10% more than general officers (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(g)). The county legislative body may provide additional compensation for ex-officio duties as workhouse superintendent (T.C.A. § 8-24-103(a)(3); 8-24-111).

Clerks of Court

Clerks serving multiple courts may receive an additional 10% salary increase at the discretion of the county legislative body. This increase affects the minimum salary of the sheriff, highway superintendent, and county mayor (T.C.A. § 8-24-102(j)(2)).

Assessors of Property

The assessor's minimum salary equals that of general officers (T.C.A. § 8-24-102). Additional salary may be granted by the county legislative body (T.C.A. § 67-1-508).

Administrators of Elections

Certified administrators in offices open five full days a week must earn at least 90% of the assessor’s salary (T.C.A. § 2-12-208). Additional salary may be provided (T.C.A. § 2-12-208(b)).

General Sessions Court Judges

Salaries increase annually based on the consumer price index, per T.C.A. §§ 16-15-5003 and 8-23-103. CTAS does not prepare salary schedules for these judges, as each county's pay is determined by specific private acts and laws.