High paying jobs in Johnson City, TN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Johnson City, TN and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Johnson City, TN run 12.1% below the national average (2024), so a Johnson City, TN salary is worth about 1.14× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Johnson City, TN

OccupationMedian, Johnson City, TN · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$96,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,010 – $96,53040
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$86,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $143,78080
3Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$82,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,050 – $108,89050
4First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$81,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,200 – $131,11070
5Dental Hygienists$80,070
Associate's degree
$67,240 – $95,860140
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$78,970
Associate's degree
$63,450 – $102,23090
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,980
Associate's degree
$51,450 – $95,750190
8Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$74,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,090 – $79,69050
9Detectives and Criminal Investigators$74,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,610 – $151,72060
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$70,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,760 – $111,720300
11Postal Service Clerks$68,810
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,36040
12First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$66,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,320 – $95,62060
13Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,810
Associate's degree
$49,510 – $86,76040
14Physical Therapist Assistants$64,270
Associate's degree
$46,640 – $81,790100
15Insurance Sales Agents$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,000 – $63,400120
16Food Service Managers$62,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,820 – $95,110120
17First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$62,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,430 – $94,210360
18First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,760 – $96,820430
19Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$60,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,580 – $85,77080
20Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,530
Associate's degree
$48,040 – $80,18040
21Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,450 – $85,74030
22Chefs and Head Cooks$59,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,400 – $92,920100
23First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,020 – $90,0801,420
24Surgical Technologists$59,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,870 – $73,380120
25Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$58,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,410 – $91,89080
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,710
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040230
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$58,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,710 – $73,09060
28Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$57,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,880 – $81,64060
29Tool and Die Makers$56,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,610 – $69,48060
30Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$56,390
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36070
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,220
Associate's degree
$43,080 – $87,82040
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$55,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,090 – $78,780210
33First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$55,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $83,120250
34Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$54,920
Associate's degree
$43,250 – $80,28070
35Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$54,810
Associate's degree
$35,340 – $97,96060
36Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$54,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,350 – $117,150650
37Forest and Conservation Technicians$53,730
Associate's degree
$46,450 – $76,90040
38Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$53,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,620 – $78,99060
39First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$52,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,600 – $86,52050
40Massage Therapists$52,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,750 – $80,46040
41Electricians$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,930 – $101,520270
42Computer Network Support Specialists$52,030
Associate's degree
$44,740 – $89,06060
43Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$51,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,540 – $61,490820
44Chemical Technicians$51,340
Associate's degree
$38,120 – $62,76040
45Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$51,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $64,54070
46Opticians, Dispensing$51,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,260 – $72,36060
47Construction and Building Inspectors$50,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,940 – $90,20030
48Paralegals and Legal Assistants$50,450
Associate's degree
$36,900 – $58,870120
49Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$49,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,070 – $78,430450
50Paramedics$49,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,430 – $57,260100

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

#	Occupation	MedianJohnson City, TN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,530	$57,010 – $96,530	40
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,110	$47,940 – $143,780	80
3	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,300	$47,050 – $108,890	50
4	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,700	$47,200 – $131,110	70
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$80,070	$67,240 – $95,860	140
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$78,970	$63,450 – $102,230	90
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,980	$51,450 – $95,750	190
8	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,750	$57,090 – $79,690	50
9	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,020	$43,610 – $151,720	60
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,700	$45,760 – $111,720	300
11	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$68,810	$54,330 – $76,360	40
12	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,440	$45,320 – $95,620	60
13	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,810	$49,510 – $86,760	40
14	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,270	$46,640 – $81,790	100
15	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$38,000 – $63,400	120
16	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,960	$42,820 – $95,110	120
17	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,710	$46,430 – $94,210	360
18	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$42,760 – $96,820	430
19	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,550	$38,580 – $85,770	80
20	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,530	$48,040 – $80,180	40
21	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,200	$49,450 – $85,740	30
22	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,990	$29,400 – $92,920	100
23	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,420	$40,020 – $90,080	1,420
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,180	$46,870 – $73,380	120
25	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,750	$38,410 – $91,890	80
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,710	$42,390 – $81,040	230
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,020	$43,710 – $73,090	60
28	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,970	$35,880 – $81,640	60
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,460	$41,610 – $69,480	60
30	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$56,390	$42,600 – $76,360	70
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,220	$43,080 – $87,820	40
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,750	$42,090 – $78,780	210
33	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,310	$37,080 – $83,120	250
34	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$54,920	$43,250 – $80,280	70
35	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$54,810	$35,340 – $97,960	60
36	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,440	$30,350 – $117,150	650
37	Forest and Conservation TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,730	$46,450 – $76,900	40
38	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,290	$37,620 – $78,990	60
39	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,900	$33,600 – $86,520	50
40	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,410	$37,750 – $80,460	40
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$38,930 – $101,520	270
42	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$52,030	$44,740 – $89,060	60
43	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,480	$41,540 – $61,490	820
44	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$51,340	$38,120 – $62,760	40
45	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,060	$36,860 – $64,540	70
46	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,010	$35,260 – $72,360	60
47	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,720	$36,940 – $90,200	30
48	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$50,450	$36,900 – $58,870	120
49	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,830	$31,070 – $78,430	450
50	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,250	$37,430 – $57,260	100

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Johnson City, TN. 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.

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

High paying jobs in Johnson City, TN that need no degree

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