High paying jobs in Tennessee that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Tennessee 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 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

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$100,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,420 – $181,6804,910
2First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$85,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,800 – $147,9004,510
3Dental Hygienists$84,640
Associate's degree
$76,190 – $98,3004,570
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$83,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $105,0003,900
5Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other$82,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $82,0901,150
6Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,900 – $167,4104,670
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,640
Associate's degree
$62,220 – $101,8301,880
8Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$78,610
Associate's degree
$62,310 – $97,8701,350
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $108,8906,390
10First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$77,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,680 – $100,2502,210
11Computer Network Support Specialists$77,640
Associate's degree
$49,190 – $118,3802,660
12Detectives and Criminal Investigators$77,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,660 – $149,2801,860
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,630 – $118,28015,070
14First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$74,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $122,6204,430
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$74,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,000 – $108,32017,770
16Tire Builders$74,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $82,1901,360
17Respiratory Therapists$72,140
Associate's degree
$57,860 – $88,0603,440
18Chefs and Head Cooks$69,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,410 – $98,8603,820
19Architectural and Civil Drafters$69,220
Associate's degree
$45,050 – $98,0201,310
20Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$68,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,580 – $98,1005,360
21First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$66,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,650 – $103,79049,870
22First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$65,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,070 – $103,71018,960
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,530 – $88,61012,850
24Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$64,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,680 – $119,9004,310
25Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,630
Associate's degree
$50,540 – $90,7904,660
26Food Service Managers$64,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,080 – $101,1504,550
27Brickmasons and Blockmasons$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,610 – $75,6401,050
28Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,750
Associate's degree
$36,710 – $96,1001,820
29Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $83,8202,620
30Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$63,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,120 – $108,7201,650
31Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,330
32Physical Therapist Assistants$62,500
Associate's degree
$48,010 – $80,8003,390
33Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,420
Associate's degree
$23,910 – $78,9501,300
34Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,050
Associate's degree
$37,220 – $81,0502,150
35Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,100 – $80,8502,600
36Millwrights$61,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,100 – $75,8801,060
37Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,350 – $128,13023,850
38Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$61,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,240 – $90,0101,700
39Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,880 – $92,7802,480
40First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$61,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,710 – $97,38017,290
41Electricians$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $92,16017,070
42Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $74,3103,860
43Tool and Die Makers$60,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,600 – $81,3902,930
44Surgical Technologists$60,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,620 – $75,9203,310
45Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,900 – $115,74021,600
46Construction and Building Inspectors$59,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,670 – $84,6002,500
47Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,520 – $79,48015,630
48Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,450 – $80,5805,720
49Sheet Metal Workers$59,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $79,3601,850
50Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,110 – $67,54020,830

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	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,740	$55,420 – $181,680	4,910
2	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$85,980	$49,800 – $147,900	4,510
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,640	$76,190 – $98,300	4,570
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,660	$58,240 – $105,000	3,900
5	Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,090	$34,670 – $82,090	1,150
6	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,040	$52,900 – $167,410	4,670
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,640	$62,220 – $101,830	1,880
8	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$78,610	$62,310 – $97,870	1,350
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,010	$47,310 – $108,890	6,390
10	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,920	$45,680 – $100,250	2,210
11	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$77,640	$49,190 – $118,380	2,660
12	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,090	$49,660 – $149,280	1,860
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,830	$41,630 – $118,280	15,070
14	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,770	$47,720 – $122,620	4,430
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,470	$49,000 – $108,320	17,770
16	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,100	$45,560 – $82,190	1,360
17	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$72,140	$57,860 – $88,060	3,440
18	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,810	$45,410 – $98,860	3,820
19	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$69,220	$45,050 – $98,020	1,310
20	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,190	$45,580 – $98,100	5,360
21	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,390	$43,650 – $103,790	49,870
22	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,310	$44,070 – $103,710	18,960
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,010	$45,530 – $88,610	12,850
24	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,870	$40,680 – $119,900	4,310
25	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,630	$50,540 – $90,790	4,660
26	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,410	$43,080 – $101,150	4,550
27	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$46,610 – $75,640	1,050
28	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,750	$36,710 – $96,100	1,820
29	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,510	$45,720 – $83,820	2,620
30	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,400	$35,120 – $108,720	1,650
31	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $75,030	1,330
32	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,500	$48,010 – $80,800	3,390
33	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,420	$23,910 – $78,950	1,300
34	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,050	$37,220 – $81,050	2,150
35	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$47,100 – $80,850	2,600
36	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,810	$45,100 – $75,880	1,060
37	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,630	$34,350 – $128,130	23,850
38	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,560	$39,240 – $90,010	1,700
39	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,220	$45,880 – $92,780	2,480
40	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,160	$43,710 – $97,380	17,290
41	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$39,600 – $92,160	17,070
42	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$36,010 – $74,310	3,860
43	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,760	$45,600 – $81,390	2,930
44	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,530	$47,620 – $75,920	3,310
45	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,230	$33,900 – $115,740	21,600
46	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,870	$38,670 – $84,600	2,500
47	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$43,520 – $79,480	15,630
48	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,190	$40,450 – $80,580	5,720
49	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,170	$38,710 – $79,360	1,850
50	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,870	$41,110 – $67,540	20,830

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 jobs in Tennessee that need no degree

More for Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee

By field in Tennessee

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree