High paying jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN run 3.7% below the national average (2024), so a Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

OccupationMedian, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$131,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,830 – $218,930370
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$103,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,500 – $186,9801,680
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$97,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,700 – $154,4201,840
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$94,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,050 – $136,7501,050
5Dental Hygienists$94,030
Associate's degree
$80,170 – $98,5301,490
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$89,710
Associate's degree
$65,260 – $108,600500
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$83,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,930 – $103,3901,260
8Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$82,470
Associate's degree
$64,860 – $107,880350
9First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$80,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,360 – $125,260730
10Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,320
Associate's degree
$39,880 – $108,770470
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,250 – $115,4306,510
12Respiratory Therapists$78,700
Associate's degree
$65,040 – $97,0401,070
13Detectives and Criminal Investigators$78,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,100 – $149,280660
14Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,070 – $109,4703,390
15Computer Network Support Specialists$76,980
Associate's degree
$50,730 – $110,300910
16First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,390 – $119,4405,210
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$76,450
Associate's degree
$57,470 – $99,7601,450
18Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$76,250
Associate's degree
$50,850 – $80,880460
19Architectural and Civil Drafters$75,010
Associate's degree
$49,260 – $102,830440
20Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$73,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,420 – $101,9902,430
21First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$73,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,580 – $106,87017,890
22First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$70,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,190 – $103,8604,600
23Chefs and Head Cooks$70,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,960 – $105,9001,780
24Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $91,7903,320
25Food Service Managers$69,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,880 – $101,5601,680
26Tool and Die Makers$69,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,350 – $93,220810
27Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$68,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $93,8204,730
28Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$68,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,620 – $124,8101,970
29Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$68,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,500 – $132,2001,640
30Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,380
Associate's degree
$39,610 – $95,540430
31Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$66,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,360 – $126,440510
32Brickmasons and Blockmasons$66,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,670 – $75,410540
33Physical Therapist Assistants$65,650
Associate's degree
$49,000 – $88,370830
34Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$65,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,920 – $81,870750
35Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$64,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,660 – $82,230880
36Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$63,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,680 – $98,030370
37Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $134,4507,890
38Paramedics$63,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,920 – $80,5701,310
39Electricians$63,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $93,2006,220
40Surgical Technologists$63,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,170 – $82,0801,120
41Tutors$62,950
Some college, no degree
$32,520 – $89,9501,370
42Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,770 – $121,4209,370
43First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $100,6005,600
44Sailors and Marine Oilers$62,610
No formal educational credential
$33,070 – $78,070620
45Sheet Metal Workers$62,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,470 – $79,810750
46Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,940
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,730 – $73,2005,650
47Structural Iron and Steel Workers$61,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $75,640400
48Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,800 – $97,170810
49Construction and Building Inspectors$61,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,910 – $93,270790
50Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,920 – $67,200460

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

#	Occupation	MedianNashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$131,590	$57,830 – $218,930	370
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$103,750	$59,500 – $186,980	1,680
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,860	$57,700 – $154,420	1,840
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,420	$57,050 – $136,750	1,050
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$94,030	$80,170 – $98,530	1,490
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$89,710	$65,260 – $108,600	500
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,230	$50,930 – $103,390	1,260
8	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$82,470	$64,860 – $107,880	350
9	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,720	$52,360 – $125,260	730
10	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,320	$39,880 – $108,770	470
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,830	$55,250 – $115,430	6,510
12	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,700	$65,040 – $97,040	1,070
13	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,460	$59,100 – $149,280	660
14	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,030	$48,070 – $109,470	3,390
15	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,980	$50,730 – $110,300	910
16	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,680	$43,390 – $119,440	5,210
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,450	$57,470 – $99,760	1,450
18	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,250	$50,850 – $80,880	460
19	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,010	$49,260 – $102,830	440
20	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,700	$49,420 – $101,990	2,430
21	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,060	$46,580 – $106,870	17,890
22	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,470	$47,190 – $103,860	4,600
23	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,420	$55,960 – $105,900	1,780
24	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,030	$47,340 – $91,790	3,320
25	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,860	$39,880 – $101,560	1,680
26	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,210	$48,350 – $93,220	810
27	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,780	$49,440 – $93,820	4,730
28	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,590	$44,620 – $124,810	1,970
29	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,080	$57,500 – $132,200	1,640
30	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,380	$39,610 – $95,540	430
31	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,940	$29,360 – $126,440	510
32	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,380	$50,670 – $75,410	540
33	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,650	$49,000 – $88,370	830
34	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,030	$48,920 – $81,870	750
35	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,190	$49,660 – $82,230	880
36	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,930	$45,680 – $98,030	370
37	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,800	$37,080 – $134,450	7,890
38	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,450	$42,920 – $80,570	1,310
39	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,340	$45,900 – $93,200	6,220
40	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,120	$49,170 – $82,080	1,120
41	TutorsSome college, no degree	$62,950	$32,520 – $89,950	1,370
42	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,930	$34,770 – $121,420	9,370
43	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,900	$46,170 – $100,600	5,600
44	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$33,070 – $78,070	620
45	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,200	$41,470 – $79,810	750
46	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,940	$46,730 – $73,200	5,650
47	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,890	$47,960 – $75,640	400
48	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,710	$46,800 – $97,170	810
49	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,310	$44,910 – $93,270	790
50	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$47,920 – $67,200	460

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, 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.

More for Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

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By field in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN that need no degree

More for Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

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By field in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

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High paying jobs in each state that need no degree