High paying jobs in Knoxville, TN that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Knoxville, TN, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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
2Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians$91,440
Associate's degree
$64,480 – $98,000250
3Dental Hygienists$84,640
Associate's degree
$81,380 – $97,700590
4Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,330 – $103,970440
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$79,360
Associate's degree
$46,810 – $97,630280
6Computer Network Support Specialists$76,820
Associate's degree
$49,710 – $101,770350
7Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,230 – $113,050230
8Architectural and Civil Drafters$72,180
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $109,170250
9Industrial Machinery Mechanics$69,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $83,0301,560
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,890
Associate's degree
$51,120 – $79,130670
11Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$67,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,490 – $87,620300
12Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$67,060
Associate's degree
$42,000 – $98,600290
13Insurance Sales Agents$65,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $207,580940
14Respiratory Therapists$64,800
Associate's degree
$54,300 – $77,050460
15Mechanical Drafters$64,730
Associate's degree
$47,840 – $96,930170
16Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030160
17Tool and Die Makers$63,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,740 – $73,720500
18Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,050
Associate's degree
$51,680 – $81,050810
19Millwrights$61,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,050 – $74,310200
20Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,370 – $91,490410
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $79,350340
22Sheet Metal Workers$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,140 – $77,290270
23Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,580
Associate's degree
$40,720 – $77,920350
24Physical Therapist Assistants$60,280
Associate's degree
$46,970 – $79,330440
25Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,170 – $81,750310
26Occupational Therapy Assistants$59,930
Associate's degree
$23,910 – $74,830210
27Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,940 – $79,5601,700
28Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$59,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,690 – $79,200190
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$59,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,370 – $124,1303,110
30Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,120 – $103,3702,360
31Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$59,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $80,070460
32Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,670 – $79,0408,130
33Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,910
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040990
34Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,980 – $71,860320
35Electricians$58,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,020 – $79,5302,170
36Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030480
37Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$58,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,270 – $79,160420
38Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,630 – $74,640910
39Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$57,960
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,400 – $64,5002,650
40Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$56,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,120 – $84,8101,470
41Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$56,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,830 – $77,3901,860
42Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,310
Associate's degree
$46,300 – $96,270180
43Surgical Technologists$54,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,620 – $63,430520
44Computer User Support Specialists$53,350
Some college, no degree
$38,140 – $76,4401,440
45Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$52,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,020 – $77,980500
46Correctional Officers and Jailers$52,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,520 – $60,480720
47Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$51,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,120 – $106,470280
48Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $63,710740
49Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$51,030
No formal educational credential
$24,830 – $60,200350
50Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $81,4001,710

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	Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$91,440	$64,480 – $98,000	250
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,640	$81,380 – $97,700	590
4	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,820	$47,330 – $103,970	440
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$79,360	$46,810 – $97,630	280
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,820	$49,710 – $101,770	350
7	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$40,230 – $113,050	230
8	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,180	$48,640 – $109,170	250
9	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,140	$48,540 – $83,030	1,560
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,890	$51,120 – $79,130	670
11	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,300	$44,490 – $87,620	300
12	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,060	$42,000 – $98,600	290
13	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,060	$37,820 – $207,580	940
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$64,800	$54,300 – $77,050	460
15	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,730	$47,840 – $96,930	170
16	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$54,330 – $75,030	160
17	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,180	$49,740 – $73,720	500
18	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,050	$51,680 – $81,050	810
19	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,820	$44,050 – $74,310	200
20	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,580	$46,370 – $91,490	410
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,500	$47,690 – $79,350	340
22	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$39,140 – $77,290	270
23	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,580	$40,720 – $77,920	350
24	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,280	$46,970 – $79,330	440
25	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,970	$46,170 – $81,750	310
26	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,930	$23,910 – $74,830	210
27	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,860	$38,940 – $79,560	1,700
28	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,560	$36,690 – $79,200	190
29	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,430	$33,370 – $124,130	3,110
30	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,400	$34,120 – $103,370	2,360
31	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,120	$37,440 – $80,070	460
32	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,100	$39,670 – $79,040	8,130
33	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,910	$42,390 – $81,040	990
34	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$36,980 – $71,860	320
35	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,640	$38,020 – $79,530	2,170
36	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,030	480
37	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,090	$39,270 – $79,160	420
38	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,010	$36,630 – $74,640	910
39	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,960	$38,400 – $64,500	2,650
40	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,780	$39,120 – $84,810	1,470
41	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,380	$43,830 – $77,390	1,860
42	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,310	$46,300 – $96,270	180
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,900	$47,620 – $63,430	520
44	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$53,350	$38,140 – $76,440	1,440
45	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,910	$37,020 – $77,980	500
46	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,040	$44,520 – $60,480	720
47	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,550	$35,120 – $106,470	280
48	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,170	$39,600 – $63,710	740
49	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$51,030	$24,830 – $60,200	350
50	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,870	$38,520 – $81,400	1,710

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 experience

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