Updated May 2026 · BLS OEWS 2025 reference period
65 Highest Paying Jobs in Tennessee (2026)
The highest-paying job in Tennessee is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a state-aggregated median salary of $359,050 as of 2026, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data weighted across the state's 3 BLS-tracked metros. Across all 65 occupations the average median is $104,627, with 27 occupations paying a six-figure ($100K+) median. Tennessee's average cost-of-living index is 92, so the average median equates to $113,725 of buying power in an average-cost U.S. metro.
The 65 occupations below are ranked by median wage across Tennessee — rolling up wage data across all metropolitan areas in the state. State-level rollups smooth over the substantial intra-state wage variation typical of larger states. For state-level wage comparisons, BLS OEWS state files aggregate across MSAs and non-MSA areas. The aggregation hides legitimate within-state differences: a job in Tennessee's primary metro often pays substantially more (and costs substantially more to live near) than the same job in smaller cities.
Use the per-metro pages for the geographic-specific view. The state-level ranking is most useful for comparing Tennessee to other states, not for comparing within-state options.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Jobs in Tennessee
Ranked by state-aggregated median (50th percentile) salary, employment-weighted across Tennessee's 3 BLS-tracked metros.
State median $359,050 · 220 jobs · top metro: Knoxville ($365,260)
Obstetrician/Gynecologists in Tennessee earn $359,050 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Knoxville) pays $365,260 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $313,178 · 1,600 jobs · top metro: Knoxville ($460,080)
Family Medicine Physicians in Tennessee earn $313,178 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Knoxville) pays $460,080 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $211,544 · 1,670 jobs · top metro: Memphis ($238,040)
Dentists in Tennessee earn $211,544 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Memphis) pays $238,040 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $174,362 · 520 jobs · top metro: Nashville ($176,210)
Pediatricians in Tennessee earn $174,362 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Nashville) pays $176,210 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $161,623 · 8,730 jobs · top metro: Nashville ($165,970)
Computer and Information Systems Managers in Tennessee earn $161,623 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Nashville) pays $165,970 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $149,967 · 12,240 jobs · top metro: Nashville ($156,860)
Financial Managers in Tennessee earn $149,967 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Nashville) pays $156,860 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $137,684 · 6,910 jobs · top metro: Nashville ($142,540)
Lawyers in Tennessee earn $137,684 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Nashville) pays $142,540 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $135,622 · 5,080 jobs · top metro: Nashville ($137,590)
Pharmacists in Tennessee earn $135,622 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Nashville) pays $137,590 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $135,602 · 370 jobs · top metro: Nashville ($144,260)
Optometrists in Tennessee earn $135,602 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Nashville) pays $144,260 median, materially above the state aggregate.
State median $135,525 · 3,130 jobs · top metro: Memphis ($138,560)
Human Resources Managers in Tennessee earn $135,525 median state-wide. Pay varies meaningfully across the state's metros — the top-paying metro (Memphis) pays $138,560 median, materially above the state aggregate.
Full Ranking: All 65 Tracked Occupations
| Rank | Role | Category | State Median | Top Metro | Top Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obstetrician/Gynecologist | Healthcare | $359,050 | Knoxville | $365,260 | 220 |
| 2 | Family Medicine Physician | Healthcare | $313,178 | Knoxville | $460,080 | 1,600 |
| 3 | Dentist | Healthcare | $211,544 | Memphis | $238,040 | 1,670 |
| 4 | Pediatrician | Healthcare | $174,362 | Nashville | $176,210 | 520 |
| 5 | Computer and Information Systems Manager | Technology | $161,623 | Nashville | $165,970 | 8,730 |
| 6 | Financial Manager | Finance | $149,967 | Nashville | $156,860 | 12,240 |
| 7 | Lawyer | Legal | $137,684 | Nashville | $142,540 | 6,910 |
| 8 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $135,622 | Nashville | $137,590 | 5,080 |
| 9 | Optometrist | Healthcare | $135,602 | Nashville | $144,260 | 370 |
| 10 | Human Resources Manager | Management | $135,525 | Memphis | $138,560 | 3,130 |
| 11 | Marketing Manager | Management | $134,006 | Nashville | $135,370 | 5,400 |
| 12 | Sales Manager | Management | $128,725 | Nashville | $131,600 | 8,150 |
| 13 | Computer Network Architect | Technology | $126,624 | Nashville | $129,370 | 2,760 |
| 14 | Software Developer | Technology | $125,486 | Nashville | $126,610 | 12,410 |
| 15 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $124,679 | Nashville | $126,230 | 1,070 |
| 16 | Physician Assistant | Healthcare | $123,479 | Nashville | $129,050 | 1,280 |
| 17 | Nurse Practitioner | Healthcare | $120,262 | Memphis | $124,600 | 7,970 |
| 18 | Database Architect | Technology | $116,110 | Nashville | $123,920 | 1,000 |
| 19 | Medical and Health Services Manager | Healthcare | $113,233 | Nashville | $116,480 | 9,700 |
| 20 | General and Operations Manager | Management | $112,801 | Nashville | $119,990 | 42,210 |
| 21 | Software Quality Assurance Analyst | Technology | $111,090 | Nashville | $111,090 | 0 |
| 22 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $105,404 | Memphis | $112,870 | 1,570 |
| 23 | Data Scientist | Technology | $101,274 | Nashville | $103,020 | 2,090 |
| 24 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $100,873 | Nashville | $103,380 | 2,790 |
| 25 | Management Analyst | Management | $100,397 | Nashville | $102,640 | 9,570 |
| 26 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $100,386 | Nashville | $102,540 | 4,500 |
| 27 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $100,160 | Memphis | $104,110 | 2,140 |
| 28 | Information Security Analyst | Technology | $99,765 | Knoxville | $102,210 | 970 |
| 29 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $99,178 | Nashville | $100,630 | 1,420 |
| 30 | Architect | Engineering | $97,935 | Nashville | $100,050 | 1,980 |
| 31 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $97,500 | Nashville | $98,650 | 3,980 |
| 32 | Computer Systems Analyst | Technology | $97,373 | Memphis | $100,640 | 7,410 |
| 33 | Engineers (Other) | Engineering | $96,585 | Knoxville | $99,650 | 2,850 |
| 34 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $94,245 | Nashville | $97,490 | 3,820 |
| 35 | Statistician | Technology | $94,082 | Memphis | $111,690 | 410 |
| 36 | Personal Financial Advisor | Finance | $91,962 | Memphis | $100,120 | 2,920 |
| 37 | Audiologist | Healthcare | $91,823 | Nashville | $97,610 | 150 |
| 38 | Business Professor (Postsecondary) | Education | $91,643 | Knoxville | $103,010 | 840 |
| 39 | Network Architect | Technology | $90,812 | Nashville | $93,170 | 3,450 |
| 40 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $88,322 | Nashville | $94,030 | 2,730 |
| 41 | Financial Examiner | Finance | $88,248 | Memphis | $102,420 | 410 |
| 42 | Software Quality Assurance Tester | Technology | $88,180 | Nashville | $95,280 | 390 |
| 43 | Speech-Language Pathologist | Healthcare | $83,122 | Memphis | $86,120 | 1,840 |
| 44 | Registered Nurse | Healthcare | $81,981 | Nashville | $84,040 | 48,360 |
| 45 | Operations Research Analyst | Technology | $80,277 | Memphis | $83,120 | 630 |
| 46 | Web Designer | Technology | $79,392 | Knoxville | $80,710 | 1,170 |
| 47 | Computer Occupations (Other) | Technology | $78,738 | Memphis | $81,690 | 7,350 |
| 48 | Accountant | Finance | $77,358 | Nashville | $78,080 | 18,920 |
| 49 | Computer Network Support Specialist | Technology | $75,708 | Nashville | $76,980 | 1,570 |
| 50 | Market Research Analyst | Management | $73,355 | Nashville | $77,240 | 9,120 |
| 51 | Computer Programmer | Technology | $70,365 | Memphis | $73,970 | 220 |
| 52 | Secondary School Teacher | Education | $63,510 | Nashville | $64,710 | 13,760 |
| 53 | Clinical Laboratory Technologist | Healthcare | $63,382 | Nashville | $65,060 | 6,200 |
| 54 | Web Developer | Technology | $63,201 | Nashville | $63,510 | 2,980 |
| 55 | Loan Officer | Finance | $63,179 | Knoxville | $63,830 | 3,630 |
| 56 | Writer/Author | Creative | $62,295 | Nashville | $63,270 | 870 |
| 57 | Electrician | Trades | $61,818 | Nashville | $63,340 | 11,160 |
| 58 | Elementary School Teacher | Education | $61,578 | Knoxville | $61,980 | 17,170 |
| 59 | Public Relations Specialist | Creative | $61,408 | Nashville | $62,870 | 2,440 |
| 60 | Plumber | Trades | $59,612 | Nashville | $60,100 | 6,380 |
| 61 | Graphic Designer | Creative | $59,418 | Nashville | $60,370 | 2,650 |
| 62 | Paralegal | Legal | $57,963 | Nashville | $60,800 | 4,550 |
| 63 | Automotive Technician | Trades | $54,125 | Nashville | $58,700 | 10,410 |
| 64 | Carpenter | Trades | $53,385 | Nashville | $55,770 | 5,560 |
| 65 | Welder | Trades | $48,806 | Nashville | $49,460 | 5,960 |
Why These Roles Pay the Most in Tennessee
Tennessee's pay reflects Nashville's healthcare-services capital (HCA, Vanderbilt), Memphis logistics (FedEx), and a growing finance sector. No state income tax; cost of living below national average.
$Tennessee tracks $3 BLS-published metros covering approximately $371,710 workers across the $65 occupations on this page. State-aggregated medians are employment-weighted across metros, which is the right way to read "state pay" when BLS publishes by metro. The Obstetrician/Gynecologist top spot reflects Knoxville pulling the upper end of the distribution; smaller metros in Tennessee typically pay 10–25% less for the same role.
Metro-by-Metro Detail
For salary data specific to one metro within Tennessee, see:
Frequently Asked Questions
The highest paying job in Tennessee is Obstetrician/Gynecologist with a state median salary of $359,050. The top-paying metro for this role is Knoxville at $365,260 median. The role employs roughly 220 workers across Tennessee.
27 of the 65 BLS-tracked occupations in Tennessee have a state-aggregated median salary of $100,000 or higher. That places this state in the upper tier nationally for high-paying occupations.
Across 65 BLS-tracked occupations, the average median salary in Tennessee is $104,627. The figure is employment-weighted across 3 metros, so larger occupations and larger metros contribute proportionally more. Cost-of-living-adjusted to a national-average baseline, it equates to $113,725.
BLS OEWS publishes wage data by Metropolitan Statistical Area. For Tennessee, this page aggregates Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville. Some non-MSA areas (small towns, rural counties) are excluded from OEWS metro tables but covered in BLS state-level summaries; we use metro-level data to preserve the percentile granularity.
Every wage figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program at bls.gov/oes — public domain federal survey data covering about 1.2 million U.S. employers. State aggregates are computed by employment-weighting metro-level percentile wages across the BLS-tracked metros in Tennessee.
State aggregates are employment-weighted across the BLS-tracked metros in Tennessee, using OEWS 2025 data.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.