High paying jobs in Tennessee that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Tennessee, 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 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

1Dental Hygienists$84,640
Associate's degree
$76,190 – $98,3004,570
2Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$83,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,240 – $105,0003,900
3Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All Other$82,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $82,0901,150
4Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,900 – $167,4104,670
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,640
Associate's degree
$62,220 – $101,8301,880
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,310 – $108,8906,390
7Computer Network Support Specialists$77,640
Associate's degree
$49,190 – $118,3802,660
8Tire Builders$74,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $82,1901,360
9Respiratory Therapists$72,140
Associate's degree
$57,860 – $88,0603,440
10Architectural and Civil Drafters$69,220
Associate's degree
$45,050 – $98,0201,310
11Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,530 – $88,61012,850
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,630
Associate's degree
$50,540 – $90,7904,660
13Brickmasons and Blockmasons$63,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,610 – $75,6401,050
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,750
Associate's degree
$36,710 – $96,1001,820
15Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $83,8202,620
16Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$63,400
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,120 – $108,7201,650
17Postal Service Clerks$63,210
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0301,330
18Physical Therapist Assistants$62,500
Associate's degree
$48,010 – $80,8003,390
19Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,420
Associate's degree
$23,910 – $78,9501,300
20Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,050
Associate's degree
$37,220 – $81,0502,150
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,100 – $80,8502,600
22Millwrights$61,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,100 – $75,8801,060
23Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,350 – $128,13023,850
24Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$61,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,240 – $90,0101,700
25Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,880 – $92,7802,480
26Electricians$61,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $92,16017,070
27Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $74,3103,860
28Tool and Die Makers$60,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,600 – $81,3902,930
29Surgical Technologists$60,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,620 – $75,9203,310
30Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,900 – $115,74021,600
31Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,520 – $79,48015,630
32Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,450 – $80,5805,720
33Sheet Metal Workers$59,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,710 – $79,3601,850
34Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,110 – $67,54020,830
35Paralegals and Legal Assistants$58,820
Associate's degree
$43,570 – $83,1006,080
36Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$58,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,960 – $83,28064,890
37Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$58,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,520 – $82,0209,270
38Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,570
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0407,310
39Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,070
Associate's degree
$43,990 – $82,4302,650
40Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$57,270
Associate's degree
$43,630 – $78,0101,650
41Insurance Sales Agents$57,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,130 – $122,0407,610
42Structural Iron and Steel Workers$56,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $74,7001,240
43Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$56,390
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,2802,850
44Computer User Support Specialists$55,990
Some college, no degree
$38,500 – $80,78011,920
45Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$55,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,540 – $81,5909,740
46Chemical Technicians$54,840
Associate's degree
$41,290 – $77,9901,470
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$53,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,300 – $80,32012,740
48Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$52,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $75,43010,660
49Cargo and Freight Agents$51,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $85,5603,390
50Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$51,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,270 – $75,1603,680

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	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,640	$76,190 – $98,300	4,570
2	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,660	$58,240 – $105,000	3,900
3	Precision Instrument and Equipment Repairers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,090	$34,670 – $82,090	1,150
4	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,040	$52,900 – $167,410	4,670
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,640	$62,220 – $101,830	1,880
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,010	$47,310 – $108,890	6,390
7	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$77,640	$49,190 – $118,380	2,660
8	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,100	$45,560 – $82,190	1,360
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$72,140	$57,860 – $88,060	3,440
10	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$69,220	$45,050 – $98,020	1,310
11	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,010	$45,530 – $88,610	12,850
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,630	$50,540 – $90,790	4,660
13	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,850	$46,610 – $75,640	1,050
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,750	$36,710 – $96,100	1,820
15	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,510	$45,720 – $83,820	2,620
16	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,400	$35,120 – $108,720	1,650
17	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,210	$42,600 – $75,030	1,330
18	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,500	$48,010 – $80,800	3,390
19	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,420	$23,910 – $78,950	1,300
20	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,050	$37,220 – $81,050	2,150
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$47,100 – $80,850	2,600
22	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,810	$45,100 – $75,880	1,060
23	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,630	$34,350 – $128,130	23,850
24	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,560	$39,240 – $90,010	1,700
25	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,220	$45,880 – $92,780	2,480
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,090	$39,600 – $92,160	17,070
27	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$36,010 – $74,310	3,860
28	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,760	$45,600 – $81,390	2,930
29	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,530	$47,620 – $75,920	3,310
30	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,230	$33,900 – $115,740	21,600
31	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$43,520 – $79,480	15,630
32	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,190	$40,450 – $80,580	5,720
33	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,170	$38,710 – $79,360	1,850
34	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,870	$41,110 – $67,540	20,830
35	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$58,820	$43,570 – $83,100	6,080
36	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,620	$39,960 – $83,280	64,890
37	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,600	$38,520 – $82,020	9,270
38	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,570	$42,390 – $81,040	7,310
39	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,070	$43,990 – $82,430	2,650
40	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,270	$43,630 – $78,010	1,650
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,120	$37,130 – $122,040	7,610
42	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,750	$44,500 – $74,700	1,240
43	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$56,390	$42,600 – $75,280	2,850
44	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$55,990	$38,500 – $80,780	11,920
45	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,490	$38,540 – $81,590	9,740
46	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$54,840	$41,290 – $77,990	1,470
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,020	$38,300 – $80,320	12,740
48	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,000	$41,600 – $75,430	10,660
49	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,800	$36,720 – $85,560	3,390
50	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,780	$36,270 – $75,160	3,680

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 experience

More for Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee

By field in Tennessee

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience