Highest-Paying Jobs in Tennessee (2025)
Ranking 149 occupations by median salary in Tennessee · Source: BLS OES & H-1B filings
Avg. Median Salary (TN)
$97,008
-4.7% vs national avg
National Median
$101,797
across all states
Total Employed
1.6M+
workers tracked in Tennessee
Top 25 Highest-Paying Jobs in Tennessee
Occupations in Tennessee ranked by median annual salary (2025 BLS OES data).
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | vs National | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologist | $610,080 | +24.7% | 560 |
| 2 | Surgeon | $373,510 | -1.1% | 490 |
| 3 | Obstetrician and Gynecologist | $354,580 | +15.4% | 360 |
| 4 | Anesthesiologist | $330,620 | -17.2% | 840 |
| 5 | Internal Medicine Physician | $232,220 | -10.8% | 1K |
| 6 | Family Medicine Physician | $226,830 | -12.0% | 2K |
| 7 | Dentist | $215,290 | +22.5% | 2K |
| 8 | Psychiatrist | $214,880 | -16.6% | 410 |
| 9 | Podiatrist | $212,470 | +19.2% | 70 |
| 10 | Nurse Anesthetist | $211,450 | -13.8% | 2K |
| 11 | Chief Executive Officer | $198,830 | -6.5% | 5K |
| 12 | Pediatrician | $176,210 | -18.2% | 740 |
| 13 | Physicist | $165,010 | +7.3% | 240 |
| 14 | Engineering Manager | $161,430 | -2.8% | 4K |
| 15 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | $158,700 | -2.6% | 12K |
| 16 | Airline Pilot | $143,580 | -33.0% | 110 |
| 17 | Financial Manager | $141,010 | -6.5% | 18K |
| 18 | Purchasing Manager | $137,060 | -2.0% | 1K |
| 19 | Lawyer | $136,180 | +1.1% | 9K |
| 20 | Biochemist and Biophysicist | $134,560 | +35.7% | 60 |
| 21 | Optometrist | $134,170 | -1.4% | 660 |
| 22 | Pharmacist | $133,390 | -6.6% | 8K |
| 23 | Marketing Manager | $131,990 | -9.9% | 8K |
| 24 | Human Resources Manager | $131,760 | -4.9% | 4K |
| 25 | Computer Hardware Engineer | $130,830 | +0.5% | — |
Healthcare
Cardiologist
560 employed
$610,080
+24.7% vs national
Surgeon
490 employed
$373,510
-1.1% vs national
Obstetrician and Gynecologist
360 employed
$354,580
+15.4% vs national
Anesthesiologist
840 employed
$330,620
-17.2% vs national
Internal Medicine Physician
1K employed
$232,220
-10.8% vs national
Family Medicine Physician
2K employed
$226,830
-12.0% vs national
Dentist
2K employed
$215,290
+22.5% vs national
Psychiatrist
410 employed
$214,880
-16.6% vs national
Podiatrist
70 employed
$212,470
+19.2% vs national
Nurse Anesthetist
2K employed
$211,450
-13.8% vs national
Pediatrician
740 employed
$176,210
-18.2% vs national
Optometrist
660 employed
$134,170
-1.4% vs national
Pharmacist
8K employed
$133,390
-6.6% vs national
Veterinarian
2K employed
$124,350
-0.5% vs national
Physician Assistant
2K employed
$118,240
-13.1% vs national
Nurse Practitioner
12K employed
$117,590
-12.1% vs national
Nurse Midwife
330 employed
$116,980
-11.9% vs national
Medical and Health Services Manager
14K employed
$107,120
-11.0% vs national
Physical Therapist
5K employed
$100,140
-1.5% vs national
Occupational Therapist
2K employed
$97,700
-1.1% vs national
Dental Hygienist
5K employed
$84,640
-12.6% vs national
Speech-Language Pathologist
3K employed
$84,630
-7.3% vs national
Registered Nurse
72K employed
$81,500
-13.4% vs national
Respiratory Therapist
3K employed
$72,140
-14.0% vs national
Dietitian and Nutritionist
1K employed
$67,620
-8.0% vs national
Radiologic Technologist
5K employed
$64,630
-20.5% vs national
Licensed Practical Nurse
21K employed
$58,870
-11.8% vs national
Mental Health Counselor
9K employed
$49,580
-16.5% vs national
Dental Assistant
7K employed
$46,720
-4.8% vs national
Social Worker
2K employed
$46,500
-18.7% vs national
Rehabilitation Counselor
2K employed
$46,060
-4.3% vs national
Pharmacy Technician
12K employed
$41,920
-7.7% vs national
Medical Assistant
19K employed
$39,570
-11.3% vs national
Nursing Assistant (CNA)
27K employed
$37,990
-9.1% vs national
Home Health and Personal Care Aide
36K employed
$32,130
-8.0% vs national
Management
Chief Executive Officer
5K employed
$198,830
-6.5% vs national
Purchasing Manager
1K employed
$137,060
-2.0% vs national
Marketing Manager
8K employed
$131,990
-9.9% vs national
Human Resources Manager
4K employed
$131,760
-4.9% vs national
Sales Manager
12K employed
$128,040
-8.1% vs national
Administrative Services Manager
8K employed
$127,410
+12.4% vs national
Public Relations Manager
700 employed
$127,390
-1.6% vs national
Training and Development Manager
840 employed
$121,030
-3.0% vs national
Industrial Production Manager
6K employed
$119,430
-4.0% vs national
Construction Manager
6K employed
$110,200
-3.5% vs national
General and Operations Manager
64K employed
$106,970
-1.1% vs national
Management Analyst
14K employed
$99,260
+1.5% vs national
Project Management Specialist
21K employed
$85,890
-13.0% vs national
Human Resources Specialist
21K employed
$67,370
-7.3% vs national
Property and Real Estate Manager
4K employed
$64,870
-5.2% vs national
Science
Physicist
240 employed
$165,010
+7.3% vs national
Biochemist and Biophysicist
60 employed
$134,560
+35.7% vs national
Medical Scientist
4K employed
$102,720
+11.4% vs national
Chemist
960 employed
$87,930
-4.4% vs national
Urban and Regional Planner
310 employed
$78,970
-5.8% vs national
Geoscientist
230 employed
$77,870
-14.1% vs national
Environmental Scientist
1K employed
$76,840
-4.0% vs national
Psychologist
1K employed
$76,820
-21.0% vs national
Engineering
Engineering Manager
4K employed
$161,430
-2.8% vs national
Aerospace Engineer
610 employed
$128,510
-1.2% vs national
Biomedical Engineer
170 employed
$106,470
+2.9% vs national
Electrical Engineer
3K employed
$104,450
-8.7% vs national
Mechanical Engineer
4K employed
$99,550
-5.6% vs national
Industrial Engineer
7K employed
$99,080
-7.0% vs national
Environmental Engineer
540 employed
$97,190
-6.6% vs national
Civil Engineer
6K employed
$95,910
-3.3% vs national
Materials Engineer
330 employed
$91,940
-15.5% vs national
Technology
Computer and Information Systems Manager
12K employed
$158,700
-2.6% vs national
Computer Hardware Engineer
$130,830
+0.5% vs national
Computer Network Architect
4K employed
$123,860
-2.0% vs national
Software Developer
19K employed
$122,430
-3.9% vs national
Information Security Analyst
3K employed
$115,430
-1.3% vs national
Database Administrator
650 employed
$115,170
-13.1% vs national
Computer and Information Research Scientist
$108,830
-18.2% vs national
Data Scientist
3K employed
$100,330
-6.5% vs national
Statistician
530 employed
$98,230
-0.4% vs national
Computer Systems Analyst
10K employed
$95,630
-8.1% vs national
Network Administrator
5K employed
$88,100
-6.0% vs national
Multimedia Artist and Animator
90 employed
$83,080
+5.4% vs national
Computer Network Support Specialist
3K employed
$77,640
+5.9% vs national
Operations Research Analyst
1K employed
$76,680
-14.1% vs national
Software Engineer
11K employed
$76,470
-28.3% vs national
Web Developer
2K employed
$74,760
-13.4% vs national
Data Analyst
$65,110
-15.0% vs national
Web and Digital Interface Designer
4K employed
$63,510
-26.0% vs national
Computer User Support Specialist
12K employed
$55,990
-7.9% vs national
Skilled Trades
Airline Pilot
110 employed
$143,580
-33.0% vs national
Construction Supervisor
18K employed
$74,470
-10.3% vs national
Electrician
17K employed
$61,090
-11.8% vs national
Plumber
9K employed
$58,600
-14.5% vs national
Automotive Service Technician
16K employed
$50,290
-3.6% vs national
Maintenance and Repair Worker
36K employed
$47,240
-6.7% vs national
Construction Laborer
26K employed
$45,000
-8.7% vs national
Air Traffic Controller
190 employed
$40,180
-29.4% vs national
Finance
Financial Manager
18K employed
$141,010
-6.5% vs national
Economist
80 employed
$117,650
+5.7% vs national
Actuary
300 employed
$108,930
-12.7% vs national
Financial Analyst
5K employed
$92,990
-4.3% vs national
Financial Examiner
500 employed
$87,110
-2.4% vs national
Budget Analyst
1K employed
$86,570
-2.0% vs national
Personal Financial Advisor
4K employed
$84,160
-15.1% vs national
Accountant
27K employed
$76,840
-7.0% vs national
Credit Analyst
1K employed
$72,550
-11.1% vs national
Tax Examiner
2K employed
$69,240
-13.9% vs national
Compliance Officer
8K employed
$63,960
-19.0% vs national
Loan Officer
7K employed
$62,800
-17.8% vs national
Securities Sales Agent
11K employed
$58,050
-20.0% vs national
Insurance Sales Agent
8K employed
$57,120
-10.0% vs national
Legal
Creative
Art Director
930 employed
$89,860
-5.3% vs national
Producer and Director
3K employed
$73,020
+3.3% vs national
Commercial and Industrial Designer
750 employed
$71,230
-13.0% vs national
Interior Designer
2K employed
$63,660
-3.4% vs national
Graphic Designer
4K employed
$57,270
-5.5% vs national
Audio and Video Technician
2K employed
$49,970
-8.0% vs national
Education
Instructional Coordinator
4K employed
$74,390
-2.5% vs national
Librarian
3K employed
$62,090
-8.0% vs national
Secondary School Teacher
21K employed
$61,860
-12.2% vs national
Middle School Teacher
13K employed
$60,690
-11.5% vs national
Elementary School Teacher
28K employed
$59,980
-12.0% vs national
School Counselor
6K employed
$59,960
-7.7% vs national
Kindergarten Teacher
3K employed
$58,070
-9.5% vs national
Tutor
4K employed
$38,730
-13.2% vs national
Business & Operations
Logistician
5K employed
$71,280
-14.5% vs national
Market Research Analyst
13K employed
$69,790
-4.2% vs national
Purchasing Agent
11K employed
$65,430
-14.9% vs national
Training and Development Specialist
9K employed
$62,280
-9.3% vs national
Public Relations Specialist
3K employed
$60,900
-12.3% vs national
Real Estate Broker
540 employed
$60,150
-14.2% vs national
Editor
1K employed
$59,550
-10.7% vs national
Writer and Author
1K employed
$58,870
-16.8% vs national
Real Estate Sales Agent
2K employed
$46,250
-21.6% vs national