High paying production jobs in Tennessee

Every production occupation below is ranked by its median annual wage in Tennessee. Read the percentile range, not just the median: the gap between the 10th and 90th inside a single production job is usually wider than the gap between two different ones, so where you land in a field matters more than which field you pick.

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 production jobs in Tennessee

OccupationMedian, Tennessee · Employed

1Tire Builders$74,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $82,1901,360
2First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$65,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,070 – $103,71018,960
3Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $74,3103,860
4Tool and Die Makers$60,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,600 – $81,3902,930
5Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$50,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,430 – $75,5403,140
6Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$50,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,830 – $75,2802,450
7Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$50,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,760 – $64,3502,260
8Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$49,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,000 – $64,6201,980
9Machinists$49,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,560 – $70,4308,270
10Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,690 – $71,8601,290
11Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$48,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,840 – $64,20012,510
12Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $60,8501,610
13Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $63,7102,980
14Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $63,3603,880
15Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,400 – $54,0801,950
16Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$46,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,550 – $60,1703,490
17Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,780 – $62,4001,570
18Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$46,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,220 – $63,2601,460
19Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$45,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,110 – $66,34017,140
20Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders$45,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,100 – $62,5601,820
21Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,620 – $53,3005,380
22Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$44,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,880 – $55,2401,340
23Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$44,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,930 – $78,46058,760
24Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$44,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,210 – $50,0001,260
25Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,140 – $59,2001,140
26Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $60,7901,170
27Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,050 – $62,8107,400
28Printing Press Operators$43,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,870 – $58,3103,510
29Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$42,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,760 – $57,8001,290
30Food Processing Workers, All Other$42,690
No formal educational credential
$35,900 – $50,6101,910
31Food Batchmakers$42,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,850 – $56,5702,920
32Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$42,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,350 – $71,5101,980
33Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$41,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,770 – $56,0504,210
34Production Workers, All Other$40,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,310 – $59,40020,150
35Butchers and Meat Cutters$39,960
No formal educational credential
$26,520 – $47,7102,650
36Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,700 – $51,8401,660
37Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$39,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $49,4001,510
38Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$38,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,750 – $57,4503,730
39Helpers--Production Workers$38,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,280 – $51,1205,270
40Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$37,590
No formal educational credential
$28,090 – $44,2202,970
41Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$35,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,330 – $46,4201,840
42Bakers$34,440
No formal educational credential
$22,380 – $46,4005,200
43Sewing Machine Operators$34,220
No formal educational credential
$19,130 – $46,8003,300
44Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$33,220
No formal educational credential
$27,420 – $36,9005,730

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	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,100	$45,560 – $82,190	1,360
2	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,310	$44,070 – $103,710	18,960
3	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$36,010 – $74,310	3,860
4	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,760	$45,600 – $81,390	2,930
5	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,670	$35,430 – $75,540	3,140
6	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,470	$33,830 – $75,280	2,450
7	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,460	$38,760 – $64,350	2,260
8	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,980	$38,000 – $64,620	1,980
9	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,600	$37,560 – $70,430	8,270
10	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,540	$31,690 – $71,860	1,290
11	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,040	$37,840 – $64,200	12,510
12	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,840	$36,600 – $60,850	1,610
13	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,550	$35,000 – $63,710	2,980
14	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,210	$36,400 – $63,360	3,880
15	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,180	$35,400 – $54,080	1,950
16	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,920	$31,550 – $60,170	3,490
17	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,440	$35,780 – $62,400	1,570
18	Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,280	$38,220 – $63,260	1,460
19	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,760	$34,110 – $66,340	17,140
20	Food Cooking Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,620	$35,100 – $62,560	1,820
21	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,780	$35,620 – $53,300	5,380
22	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,710	$34,880 – $55,240	1,340
23	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,630	$33,930 – $78,460	58,760
24	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,030	$35,210 – $50,000	1,260
25	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,810	$37,140 – $59,200	1,140
26	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,710	$29,570 – $60,790	1,170
27	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,190	$33,050 – $62,810	7,400
28	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,160	$30,870 – $58,310	3,510
29	Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,950	$35,760 – $57,800	1,290
30	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$42,690	$35,900 – $50,610	1,910
31	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,610	$34,850 – $56,570	2,920
32	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,230	$33,350 – $71,510	1,980
33	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,970	$34,770 – $56,050	4,210
34	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,130	$31,310 – $59,400	20,150
35	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$39,960	$26,520 – $47,710	2,650
36	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,510	$29,700 – $51,840	1,660
37	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,070	$30,680 – $49,400	1,510
38	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,820	$30,750 – $57,450	3,730
39	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,330	$30,280 – $51,120	5,270
40	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$37,590	$28,090 – $44,220	2,970
41	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35,290	$29,330 – $46,420	1,840
42	BakersNo formal educational credential	$34,440	$22,380 – $46,400	5,200
43	Sewing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$34,220	$19,130 – $46,800	3,300
44	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,220	$27,420 – $36,900	5,730

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 production jobs in Tennessee

More for Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee

By field in Tennessee

Without a degree

High paying production jobs in each state