Jobs that actually got a raise in Tennessee

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

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 · Real change since 2019

1Rehabilitation Counselors$46,060
Master's degree
$35,320 – $59,800+53.7%+93.6% nominal
2Driver/Sales Workers$42,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,800 – $51,610+51.4%+90.6% nominal
3Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$59,610
Bachelor's degree
$36,680 – $80,380+44.6%+82.1% nominal
4Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$48,410
No formal educational credential
$34,900 – $71,490+37.0%+72.5% nominal
5Sales and Related Workers, All Other$48,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,040 – $100,730+32.1%+66.4% nominal
6Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$47,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,570 – $67,200+29.8%+63.5% nominal
7Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $83,820+28.4%+61.7% nominal
8Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$36,640
No formal educational credential
$22,990 – $40,370+26.7%+59.5% nominal
9Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers$30,550
No formal educational credential
$23,080 – $36,070+26.5%+59.3% nominal
10Counter and Rental Clerks$37,960
No formal educational credential
$28,110 – $57,760+25.0%+57.4% nominal
11Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$43,270
No formal educational credential
$28,390 – $61,400+23.6%+55.7% nominal
12Cooks, All Other$36,440
No formal educational credential
$22,030 – $38,950+22.8%+54.7% nominal
13Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$29,500
Bachelor's degree
$21,570 – $35,970+22.8%+54.6% nominal
14Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$102,720
Doctoral or professional degree
$63,500 – $155,100+22.8%+54.7% nominal
15Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers$33,220
No formal educational credential
$27,420 – $36,900+22.5%+54.3% nominal
16Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$48,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,690 – $71,860+22.4%+54.1% nominal
17Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$57,270
Associate's degree
$43,630 – $78,010+21.3%+52.8% nominal
18Manicurists and Pedicurists$34,810
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,450 – $57,340+20.8%+52.1% nominal
19Psychiatric Technicians$39,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,370 – $53,940+20.4%+51.6% nominal
20Human Resources Managers$131,760
Bachelor's degree
$85,160 – $218,300+19.6%+50.5% nominal
21Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers$36,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,230 – $43,700+19.4%+50.4% nominal
22Waiters and Waitresses$27,760
No formal educational credential
$15,080 – $47,660+19.2%+50.1% nominal
23Food Preparation Workers$28,700
No formal educational credential
$22,290 – $39,660+19.1%+50.0% nominal
24Chefs and Head Cooks$69,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,410 – $98,860+18.9%+49.7% nominal
25Food Processing Workers, All Other$42,690
No formal educational credential
$35,900 – $50,610+18.7%+49.5% nominal
26Tour and Travel Guides$33,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,320 – $43,130+18.7%+49.4% nominal
27Construction Managers$110,200
Bachelor's degree
$65,780 – $183,270+18.1%+48.7% nominal
28Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products$94,450
Bachelor's degree
$48,570 – $181,260+17.9%+48.5% nominal
29Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$29,470
No formal educational credential
$21,220 – $37,420+17.7%+48.2% nominal
30Library Assistants, Clerical$37,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,180 – $54,230+17.6%+48.0% nominal
31Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,000 – $63,710+17.6%+48.0% nominal
32Packers and Packagers, Hand$35,980
No formal educational credential
$26,940 – $46,990+17.4%+47.8% nominal
33Home Health and Personal Care Aides$32,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,090 – $38,150+17.4%+47.8% nominal
34Bartenders$27,480
No formal educational credential
$15,970 – $52,740+17.3%+47.7% nominal
35Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,780 – $62,400+17.1%+47.5% nominal
36Cooks, Restaurant$36,420
No formal educational credential
$27,910 – $45,650+17.0%+47.3% nominal
37Residential Advisors$34,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,930 – $49,830+16.9%+47.2% nominal
38Dishwashers$30,530
No formal educational credential
$22,900 – $38,580+16.9%+47.2% nominal
39Security Guards$36,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,310 – $51,680+16.5%+46.8% nominal
40Medical Equipment Preparers$46,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $60,360+16.3%+46.4% nominal
41Information Security Analysts$115,430
Bachelor's degree
$63,870 – $250,590+15.9%+45.9% nominal
42Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine Mechanics$46,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,400 – $64,180+15.7%+45.8% nominal
43Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$33,440
No formal educational credential
$26,720 – $45,690+15.6%+45.5% nominal
44Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$47,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,530 – $58,900+15.2%+45.0% nominal
45Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood$39,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,680 – $49,400+15.2%+45.0% nominal
46Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$43,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,050 – $62,810+15.0%+44.8% nominal
47Childcare Workers$29,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,730 – $38,050+14.9%+44.8% nominal
48Cooks, Fast Food$28,330
No formal educational credential
$20,380 – $38,330+14.4%+44.1% nominal
49Chief Executives$198,830
Bachelor's degree
$64,520 – $474,740+14.1%+43.7% nominal
50Recreation Workers$33,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,960 – $46,550+13.8%+43.3% nominal

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	Real change since 2019
1	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$46,060	$35,320 – $59,800	+53.7%+93.6% nominal
2	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,220	$20,800 – $51,610	+51.4%+90.6% nominal
3	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$59,610	$36,680 – $80,380	+44.6%+82.1% nominal
4	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$48,410	$34,900 – $71,490	+37.0%+72.5% nominal
5	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,190	$20,040 – $100,730	+32.1%+66.4% nominal
6	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,940	$33,570 – $67,200	+29.8%+63.5% nominal
7	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,510	$45,720 – $83,820	+28.4%+61.7% nominal
8	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$36,640	$22,990 – $40,370	+26.7%+59.5% nominal
9	Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket TakersNo formal educational credential	$30,550	$23,080 – $36,070	+26.5%+59.3% nominal
10	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$37,960	$28,110 – $57,760	+25.0%+57.4% nominal
11	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$43,270	$28,390 – $61,400	+23.6%+55.7% nominal
12	Cooks, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$36,440	$22,030 – $38,950	+22.8%+54.7% nominal
13	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$29,500	$21,570 – $35,970	+22.8%+54.6% nominal
14	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$102,720	$63,500 – $155,100	+22.8%+54.7% nominal
15	Laundry and Dry-Cleaning WorkersNo formal educational credential	$33,220	$27,420 – $36,900	+22.5%+54.3% nominal
16	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,540	$31,690 – $71,860	+22.4%+54.1% nominal
17	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,270	$43,630 – $78,010	+21.3%+52.8% nominal
18	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$34,810	$20,450 – $57,340	+20.8%+52.1% nominal
19	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$39,800	$31,370 – $53,940	+20.4%+51.6% nominal
20	Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree	$131,760	$85,160 – $218,300	+19.6%+50.5% nominal
21	Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal CaretakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,320	$30,230 – $43,700	+19.4%+50.4% nominal
22	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$27,760	$15,080 – $47,660	+19.2%+50.1% nominal
23	Food Preparation WorkersNo formal educational credential	$28,700	$22,290 – $39,660	+19.1%+50.0% nominal
24	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,810	$45,410 – $98,860	+18.9%+49.7% nominal
25	Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$42,690	$35,900 – $50,610	+18.7%+49.5% nominal
26	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,760	$28,320 – $43,130	+18.7%+49.4% nominal
27	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$110,200	$65,780 – $183,270	+18.1%+48.7% nominal
28	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific ProductsBachelor's degree	$94,450	$48,570 – $181,260	+17.9%+48.5% nominal
29	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$29,470	$21,220 – $37,420	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
30	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,410	$24,180 – $54,230	+17.6%+48.0% nominal
31	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,550	$35,000 – $63,710	+17.6%+48.0% nominal
32	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$35,980	$26,940 – $46,990	+17.4%+47.8% nominal
33	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32,130	$28,090 – $38,150	+17.4%+47.8% nominal
34	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$27,480	$15,970 – $52,740	+17.3%+47.7% nominal
35	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,440	$35,780 – $62,400	+17.1%+47.5% nominal
36	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$36,420	$27,910 – $45,650	+17.0%+47.3% nominal
37	Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34,700	$27,930 – $49,830	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
38	DishwashersNo formal educational credential	$30,530	$22,900 – $38,580	+16.9%+47.2% nominal
39	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,000	$29,310 – $51,680	+16.5%+46.8% nominal
40	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,990	$35,090 – $60,360	+16.3%+46.4% nominal
41	Information Security AnalystsBachelor's degree	$115,430	$63,870 – $250,590	+15.9%+45.9% nominal
42	Outdoor Power Equipment and Other Small Engine MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,060	$28,400 – $64,180	+15.7%+45.8% nominal
43	Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping CleanersNo formal educational credential	$33,440	$26,720 – $45,690	+15.6%+45.5% nominal
44	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,770	$39,530 – $58,900	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
45	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, WoodHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,070	$30,680 – $49,400	+15.2%+45.0% nominal
46	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,190	$33,050 – $62,810	+15.0%+44.8% nominal
47	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,660	$21,730 – $38,050	+14.9%+44.8% nominal
48	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$28,330	$20,380 – $38,330	+14.4%+44.1% nominal
49	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$198,830	$64,520 – $474,740	+14.1%+43.7% nominal
50	Recreation WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$33,580	$23,960 – $46,550	+13.8%+43.3% nominal

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.

Jobs that actually got a raise in Tennessee

More for Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee

By field in Tennessee

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state