High paying jobs in Knoxville, TN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN run 7.4% below the national average (2024), so a Knoxville, TN salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Knoxville, TN

OccupationMedian, Knoxville, TN · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,680 – $105,650440
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$98,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,990 – $189,500620
3Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians$91,440
Associate's degree
$64,480 – $98,000250
4Dental Hygienists$84,640
Associate's degree
$81,380 – $97,700590
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,330 – $103,970440
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$79,360
Associate's degree
$46,810 – $97,630280
7Detectives and Criminal Investigators$78,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,900 – $157,840230
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,330 – $127,250500
9Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$77,080
Associate's degree
$62,870 – $91,850190
10Computer Network Support Specialists$76,820
Associate's degree
$49,710 – $101,770350
11First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,900 – $120,4201,910
12Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,230 – $113,050230
13First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$74,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,690 – $97,320240
14Architectural and Civil Drafters$72,180
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $109,170250
15Industrial Machinery Mechanics$69,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $83,0301,560
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,890
Associate's degree
$51,120 – $79,130670
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$67,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,610 – $103,820570
18Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$67,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,490 – $87,620300
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,060
Associate's degree
$42,000 – $98,600290
20First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$66,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,810 – $104,5202,680
21Insurance Sales Agents$65,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $207,580940
22Respiratory Therapists$64,800
Associate's degree
$54,300 – $77,050460
23Mechanical Drafters$64,730
Associate's degree
$47,840 – $96,930170
24First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,140 – $103,8102,550
25Food Service Managers$63,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,950 – $121,510610
26Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$63,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,120 – $109,190500
27Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030160
28First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,010 – $102,9406,170
29Tool and Die Makers$63,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,740 – $73,720500
30Chefs and Head Cooks$62,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $99,050470
31Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,050
Associate's degree
$51,680 – $81,050810
32Millwrights$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,050 – $74,310200
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,370 – $91,490410
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $79,350340
35Sheet Metal Workers$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,140 – $77,290270
36First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$60,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,600 – $115,700620
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,580
Associate's degree
$40,720 – $77,920350
38Physical Therapist Assistants$60,280
Associate's degree
$46,970 – $79,330440
39First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,000 – $94,4001,950
40Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $81,750310
41Occupational Therapy Assistants$59,930
Associate's degree
$23,910 – $74,830210
42Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,940 – $79,5601,700
43Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$59,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,690 – $79,200190
44Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,370 – $124,1303,110
45Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,120 – $103,3702,360
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $80,070460
47Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,670 – $79,0408,130
48Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,910
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040990
49Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,980 – $71,860320
50Electricians$58,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,020 – $79,5302,170

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

#	Occupation	MedianKnoxville, TN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,780	$58,680 – $105,650	440
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,240	$51,990 – $189,500	620
3	Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$91,440	$64,480 – $98,000	250
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,640	$81,380 – $97,700	590
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,820	$47,330 – $103,970	440
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$79,360	$46,810 – $97,630	280
7	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,600	$58,900 – $157,840	230
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,130	$54,330 – $127,250	500
9	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$77,080	$62,870 – $91,850	190
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,820	$49,710 – $101,770	350
11	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,930	$46,900 – $120,420	1,910
12	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$40,230 – $113,050	230
13	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,980	$39,690 – $97,320	240
14	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,180	$48,640 – $109,170	250
15	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,140	$48,540 – $83,030	1,560
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,890	$51,120 – $79,130	670
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,310	$47,610 – $103,820	570
18	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,300	$44,490 – $87,620	300
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,060	$42,000 – $98,600	290
20	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,830	$44,810 – $104,520	2,680
21	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,060	$37,820 – $207,580	940
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$64,800	$54,300 – $77,050	460
23	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,730	$47,840 – $96,930	170
24	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,300	$47,140 – $103,810	2,550
25	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,940	$47,950 – $121,510	610
26	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,890	$41,120 – $109,190	500
27	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$54,330 – $75,030	160
28	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,580	$43,010 – $102,940	6,170
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,180	$49,740 – $73,720	500
30	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,770	$42,670 – $99,050	470
31	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,050	$51,680 – $81,050	810
32	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$44,050 – $74,310	200
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,580	$46,370 – $91,490	410
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,500	$47,690 – $79,350	340
35	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$39,140 – $77,290	270
36	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,800	$45,600 – $115,700	620
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,580	$40,720 – $77,920	350
38	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,280	$46,970 – $79,330	440
39	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,160	$41,000 – $94,400	1,950
40	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$46,170 – $81,750	310
41	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,930	$23,910 – $74,830	210
42	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,860	$38,940 – $79,560	1,700
43	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,560	$36,690 – $79,200	190
44	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$33,370 – $124,130	3,110
45	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,400	$34,120 – $103,370	2,360
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,120	$37,440 – $80,070	460
47	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,100	$39,670 – $79,040	8,130
48	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,910	$42,390 – $81,040	990
49	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$36,980 – $71,860	320
50	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,640	$38,020 – $79,530	2,170

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Knoxville, 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 Knoxville, TN to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Knoxville, TN that need no degree

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