He switched to tenor saxophone during his first year at William Penn Sr. High School where he participated in various musical ensembles winning several jazz soloist awards, including second out of forty competitors at the Montreal Festival of Music in Canada. After high school, Warfield attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. for two years before leaving to lead and co-lead groups in the Central Pennsylvania and Baltimore/Washington areas.

In 1990 he was chosen to be a member of trumpeter and CBS/Sony recording artist Marlon Jordan's Quintet. In 1991 he was selected to record Tough Young Tenors on the Island/Antilles label, a recording of rising star saxophonists, which peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts, and was listed as one of the top ten recordings of the year by the New York Times. He also joined Jazz Futures, a world touring group assembled by George Wein to showcase some of the world’s brightest young stars in jazz.

In 1991, Warfield placed third at the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Warfield has made several television appearances including the Today Show, Bill Cosby’s You Bet Your Life (where he was a member of the house band until 1992), and Ted Turner's 1998 Trumpet Awards. Additionally, he has made numerous stage appearances with such names as Donald Byrd, Michelle Rosewoman, Marcus Miller, Marlon Jordan, James Williams, Christian McBride, Winard Harper, Dizzy Gillespie, Isaac Hayes, Shirley Scott, Jimmy Smith, Nicholas Payton, Charles Fambrough, Eric Reed, Carl Allen, Terell Stafford, Stefon Harris, Orrin Evans, The Newport Millennium All Stars, "Papa" John Defrancesco, Joey Defrancesco, Claudio Raggazzi, Derrick Gardner and the Jazz Prophets, Trudy Pitts, Dana Hall, and others.

In 1994, he joined bassist and Verve recording artist Christian McBride’s group, where he remained a member until 1999.

Warfield’s first recording, A Cool Blue, was selected as one of the top ten recordings of the year in a 1995 New York Times critic’s poll, as was his 1998 recording Gentle Warrior (featuring Cyrus Chestnut, Tarus Mateen, Clarence Penn, Terell Stafford, and Nicholas Payton), proclaiming him possibly the most powerful tenor saxophonist of his generation.

In 1999, he was awarded "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in DownBeat Magazines 49th Annual Jazz Critics poll.

In the fall of 1999 Warfield exclusively joined forces with New Orleans trumpeter and recording artist Nicholas Payton.

In 2000, alongside crooner Loston Harris, Warfield performed at the MTV GQ Men of the Year Awards in New York City.

In 2006, Warfield joined trumpeter and Maxjazz recording artist Terell Stafford's Quintet.

Warfield has appeared on several GRAMMY-nominated recordings such as Stefon Harris' "The Grand Unification Theory," as well as "Dear Louis" and "Sonic Trance," both under the leadership of trumpeter and New Orleans native, Nicholas Payton.

In July of 2008, featured in the "Playlist" section, Warfield's recording "One For Shirley" dedicated to the legendary organist Shirley Scott, was one of three recordings to receive notable mention in the New York Times.

In 2009, Warfield performed in "PARIS 1959", an adaptation of Puccini's "Ill Tabarro", under the direction of producer Tami Swartz, and presented by the Harrisburg Opera Association.

In 2010, his CD "A Sentimental Journey" on the "Criss Cross Jazz'' label, was selected as a "Critic's Choice" in the New York Times, by Ben Ratliff.

In December of 2012, Warfield released his latest CD entitled "Tim Warfield's Jazzy Christmas, on his label "Undaunted Music." The CD features an all star cast including, trumpeter Terell Stafford, vibraphonist Stefon Harris, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Rodney Whitaker, drummer Clarence Penn, percussionist Daniel Sadownick, pianist Neil Podgurski, and vocalists Joanna Pascale and Jamie Davis, which advanced to slot #25, as the Highest Debut, Most Added, and Biggest Gainer, on the Jazzweek charts, in only its second week of release.

Tim's newest recording released in March of 2013 on the Criss Cross Jazz label is entitled, "Eye of the Beholder." It features, trumpeter Nicholas Payton, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and drummer Clarence Penn.

Tim currently serves as a board member, and music committee chairperson, for the Central Pennsylvania Friends of Jazz.

Tim also serves as "artist-in-residence" at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa, and has recently joined the adjunct faculty at Temple University Music Department, in Philadelphia, Pa.