High paying entry level jobs in Tennessee

These occupations in Tennessee ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average (2024), so a Tennessee salary is worth about 1.09× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in Tennessee.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Tennessee

OccupationMedian, Tennessee · Employed

1Dentists, General$215,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,360 – $311,9002,200
2Nurse Anesthetists$211,450
Master's degree
$167,480 – $286,6301,690
3Lawyers$136,180
Doctoral or professional degree
$76,510 – $324,8809,010
4Pharmacists$133,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$88,700 – $164,4308,250
5Veterinarians$124,350
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,500 – $167,9001,730
6Software Developers$122,430
Bachelor's degree
$75,280 – $166,38019,030
7Physician Assistants$118,240
Master's degree
$93,380 – $141,6702,240
8Nurse Practitioners$117,590
Master's degree
$82,790 – $137,88012,150
9Database Administrators$115,500
Bachelor's degree
$59,050 – $163,6002,020
10Electrical Engineers$104,450
Bachelor's degree
$73,850 – $166,2102,830
11Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$102,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,500 – $155,1004,020
12Data Scientists$100,330
Bachelor's degree
$60,200 – $156,1602,790
13Physical Therapists$100,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,280 – $127,5004,800
14Mechanical Engineers$99,550
Bachelor's degree
$64,150 – $156,1503,930
15Industrial Engineers$99,080
Bachelor's degree
$72,200 – $132,0407,440
16Occupational Therapists$97,700
Master's degree
$68,520 – $119,0702,490
17Engineers, All Other$96,640
Bachelor's degree
$54,620 – $155,9604,400
18Civil Engineers$95,910
Bachelor's degree
$65,090 – $154,1005,790
19Computer Systems Analysts$95,630
Bachelor's degree
$61,240 – $138,83010,220
20Financial and Investment Analysts$92,990
Bachelor's degree
$50,130 – $140,8704,910
21Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$91,040
Bachelor's degree
$61,580 – $125,7601,530
22Network and Computer Systems Administrators$88,100
Bachelor's degree
$60,530 – $128,9205,070
23Budget Analysts$86,570
Bachelor's degree
$63,920 – $133,2801,140
24Business Teachers, Postsecondary$85,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,780 – $169,7101,260
25Project Management Specialists$85,890
Bachelor's degree
$56,450 – $135,35020,780
26Dental Hygienists$84,640
Associate's degree
$76,190 – $98,3004,570
27Registered Nurses$81,500
Bachelor's degree
$63,970 – $104,92072,200
28Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$81,190
Bachelor's degree
$47,080 – $119,2502,690
29Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,900 – $167,4104,670
30Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,640
Associate's degree
$62,220 – $101,8301,880
31Business Operations Specialists, All Other$78,690
Bachelor's degree
$45,880 – $146,85011,790
32Accountants and Auditors$76,840
Bachelor's degree
$49,920 – $122,16027,340
33Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$76,840
Bachelor's degree
$54,040 – $133,1801,230
34Operations Research Analysts$76,680
Bachelor's degree
$46,150 – $125,4801,200
35Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$76,480
Doctoral or professional degree
$47,890 – $127,2802,410
36Computer Occupations, All Other$76,470
Bachelor's degree
$45,870 – $129,43010,930
37Web Developers$74,760
Bachelor's degree
$52,000 – $154,9201,620
38Credit Analysts$72,550
Bachelor's degree
$49,080 – $134,9801,480
39Respiratory Therapists$72,140
Associate's degree
$57,860 – $88,0603,440
40Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$72,030
Master's degree
$49,000 – $108,1101,370
41Logisticians$71,280
Bachelor's degree
$42,730 – $127,7004,990
42Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists$69,790
Bachelor's degree
$39,480 – $134,74013,040
43Financial Specialists, All Other$69,240
Bachelor's degree
$43,100 – $127,9202,420
44Architectural and Civil Drafters$69,220
Associate's degree
$45,050 – $98,0201,310
45Human Resources Specialists$67,370
Bachelor's degree
$45,630 – $109,99021,460
46Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,630
Associate's degree
$50,540 – $90,7904,660
47English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary$64,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,580 – $99,1701,150
48Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,750
Associate's degree
$36,710 – $96,1001,820
49Interior Designers$63,660
Bachelor's degree
$40,240 – $101,4601,530
50Web and Digital Interface Designers$63,510
Bachelor's degree
$45,510 – $83,2203,610

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianTennessee	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$215,290	$84,360 – $311,900	2,200
2	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$211,450	$167,480 – $286,630	1,690
3	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$136,180	$76,510 – $324,880	9,010
4	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,390	$88,700 – $164,430	8,250
5	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$124,350	$98,500 – $167,900	1,730
6	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$122,430	$75,280 – $166,380	19,030
7	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$118,240	$93,380 – $141,670	2,240
8	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$117,590	$82,790 – $137,880	12,150
9	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$115,500	$59,050 – $163,600	2,020
10	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,450	$73,850 – $166,210	2,830
11	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,720	$63,500 – $155,100	4,020
12	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$100,330	$60,200 – $156,160	2,790
13	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,140	$67,280 – $127,500	4,800
14	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,550	$64,150 – $156,150	3,930
15	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$99,080	$72,200 – $132,040	7,440
16	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$97,700	$68,520 – $119,070	2,490
17	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$96,640	$54,620 – $155,960	4,400
18	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$95,910	$65,090 – $154,100	5,790
19	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$95,630	$61,240 – $138,830	10,220
20	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$92,990	$50,130 – $140,870	4,910
21	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$91,040	$61,580 – $125,760	1,530
22	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$88,100	$60,530 – $128,920	5,070
23	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$86,570	$63,920 – $133,280	1,140
24	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,950	$53,780 – $169,710	1,260
25	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$85,890	$56,450 – $135,350	20,780
26	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,640	$76,190 – $98,300	4,570
27	Registered NursesBachelor's degree	$81,500	$63,970 – $104,920	72,200
28	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,190	$47,080 – $119,250	2,690
29	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,040	$52,900 – $167,410	4,670
30	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,640	$62,220 – $101,830	1,880
31	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$78,690	$45,880 – $146,850	11,790
32	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$76,840	$49,920 – $122,160	27,340
33	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$76,840	$54,040 – $133,180	1,230
34	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$76,680	$46,150 – $125,480	1,200
35	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$76,480	$47,890 – $127,280	2,410
36	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$76,470	$45,870 – $129,430	10,930
37	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$74,760	$52,000 – $154,920	1,620
38	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$72,550	$49,080 – $134,980	1,480
39	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$72,140	$57,860 – $88,060	3,440
40	Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$72,030	$49,000 – $108,110	1,370
41	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$71,280	$42,730 – $127,700	4,990
42	Market Research Analysts and Marketing SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$69,790	$39,480 – $134,740	13,040
43	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$69,240	$43,100 – $127,920	2,420
44	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$69,220	$45,050 – $98,020	1,310
45	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$67,370	$45,630 – $109,990	21,460
46	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,630	$50,540 – $90,790	4,660
47	English Language and Literature Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$64,220	$48,580 – $99,170	1,150
48	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,750	$36,710 – $96,100	1,820
49	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$63,660	$40,240 – $101,460	1,530
50	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$63,510	$45,510 – $83,220	3,610

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Tennessee. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Tennessee

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Tennessee to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Tennessee

More for Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee

By field in Tennessee

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state