Jobs that lost the most to inflation in Tennessee

Every occupation here is paid more in dollars than it was in 2019 and less in what those dollars buy. Prices rose about 26% over the period; these wages did not keep up. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people.

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

1Tax Preparers$36,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,770 – $77,270-38.1%-22.1% nominal
2Advertising Sales Agents$40,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,200 – $82,960-30.2%-12.0% nominal
3Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$43,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,570 – $60,790-28.4%-9.8% nominal
4Procurement Clerks$38,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,750 – $57,790-26.6%-7.5% nominal
5Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$56,390
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,280-25.5%-6.2% nominal
6Business Teachers, Postsecondary$85,950
Doctoral or professional degree
$53,780 – $169,710-24.1%-4.5% nominal
7Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents$51,630
Bachelor's degree
$40,330 – $90,000-19.6%+1.2% nominal
8Public Relations Specialists$60,900
Bachelor's degree
$37,450 – $98,370-19.4%+1.4% nominal
9Occupational Therapy Assistants$62,420
Associate's degree
$23,910 – $78,950-19.4%+1.5% nominal
10Social Workers, All Other$51,460
Bachelor's degree
$31,920 – $111,570-18.0%+3.3% nominal
11Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,880 – $92,780-17.8%+3.5% nominal
12Audio and Video Technicians$49,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,830 – $84,390-17.0%+4.5% nominal
13Real Estate Sales Agents$46,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,160 – $92,010-16.2%+5.5% nominal
14Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents$58,050
Bachelor's degree
$38,980 – $145,230-15.9%+5.9% nominal
15Pharmacists$133,390
Doctoral or professional degree
$88,700 – $164,430-15.9%+5.9% nominal
16Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$51,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,160 – $78,360-14.7%+7.4% nominal
17Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners$52,000
Bachelor's degree
$36,300 – $78,100-14.3%+7.9% nominal
18Physical Therapist Assistants$62,500
Associate's degree
$48,010 – $80,800-14.0%+8.3% nominal
19Speech-Language Pathologists$84,630
Master's degree
$58,550 – $116,790-13.9%+8.4% nominal
20Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$45,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,850 – $71,330-13.8%+8.5% nominal
21Education Administrators, Postsecondary$100,850
Master's degree
$65,000 – $224,710-12.4%+10.3% nominal
22Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$81,190
Bachelor's degree
$47,080 – $119,250-12.2%+10.5% nominal
23Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$62,090
Master's degree
$36,860 – $80,140-11.6%+11.4% nominal
24Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,010 – $74,310-11.4%+11.6% nominal
25Printing Press Operators$43,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,870 – $58,310-11.3%+11.8% nominal
26Special Education Teachers, Middle School$60,000
Bachelor's degree
$48,640 – $75,490-11.0%+12.1% nominal
27First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$74,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,720 – $122,620-11.0%+12.0% nominal
28Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$61,360
Bachelor's degree
$50,190 – $77,640-11.0%+12.1% nominal
29Crossing Guards and Flaggers$35,960
No formal educational credential
$32,610 – $48,530-11.0%+12.1% nominal
30Electrical Engineers$104,450
Bachelor's degree
$73,850 – $166,210-10.8%+12.3% nominal
31Firefighters$49,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$33,910 – $70,460-10.8%+12.3% nominal
32Self-Enrichment Teachers$38,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,740 – $76,730-10.7%+12.5% nominal
33Parts Salespersons$36,110
No formal educational credential
$27,320 – $61,060-10.6%+12.6% nominal
34Training and Development Specialists$62,280
Bachelor's degree
$38,000 – $116,280-10.5%+12.8% nominal
35Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All Other$29,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,820 – $39,340-10.3%+13.0% nominal
36Loan Interviewers and Clerks$45,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,560 – $65,900-10.0%+13.4% nominal
37Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping$45,760
Associate's degree
$35,740 – $59,990-9.9%+13.4% nominal
38Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$39,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,700 – $51,840-9.9%+13.4% nominal
39Chemical Technicians$54,840
Associate's degree
$41,290 – $77,990-9.8%+13.6% nominal
40Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers$50,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $78,300-9.3%+14.2% nominal
41Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$61,700
Bachelor's degree
$49,480 – $77,450-9.1%+14.5% nominal
42Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$38,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,870 – $60,170-9.0%+14.6% nominal
43Machinists$49,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,560 – $70,430-8.7%+15.0% nominal
44Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$47,510
No formal educational credential
$37,220 – $65,650-8.6%+15.0% nominal
45Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairers$42,330
Some college, no degree
$35,700 – $62,530-8.6%+15.1% nominal
46Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$61,860
Bachelor's degree
$49,050 – $79,180-8.6%+15.2% nominal
47Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$59,980
Bachelor's degree
$48,100 – $76,840-8.4%+15.4% nominal
48Family Medicine Physicians$226,830
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,290 – $481,200-8.4%+15.4% nominal
49Physical Therapists$100,140
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,280 – $127,500-8.3%+15.5% nominal
50Coaches and Scouts$37,780
Bachelor's degree
$22,990 – $81,080-8.3%+15.5% 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	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,600	$27,770 – $77,270	-38.1%-22.1% nominal
2	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,910	$28,200 – $82,960	-30.2%-12.0% nominal
3	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,710	$29,570 – $60,790	-28.4%-9.8% nominal
4	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,710	$36,750 – $57,790	-26.6%-7.5% nominal
5	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$56,390	$42,600 – $75,280	-25.5%-6.2% nominal
6	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$85,950	$53,780 – $169,710	-24.1%-4.5% nominal
7	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue AgentsBachelor's degree	$51,630	$40,330 – $90,000	-19.6%+1.2% nominal
8	Public Relations SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$60,900	$37,450 – $98,370	-19.4%+1.4% nominal
9	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,420	$23,910 – $78,950	-19.4%+1.5% nominal
10	Social Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$51,460	$31,920 – $111,570	-18.0%+3.3% nominal
11	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,220	$45,880 – $92,780	-17.8%+3.5% nominal
12	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,970	$32,830 – $84,390	-17.0%+4.5% nominal
13	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,250	$32,160 – $92,010	-16.2%+5.5% nominal
14	Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales AgentsBachelor's degree	$58,050	$38,980 – $145,230	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
15	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$133,390	$88,700 – $164,430	-15.9%+5.9% nominal
16	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,460	$37,160 – $78,360	-14.7%+7.4% nominal
17	Meeting, Convention, and Event PlannersBachelor's degree	$52,000	$36,300 – $78,100	-14.3%+7.9% nominal
18	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,500	$48,010 – $80,800	-14.0%+8.3% nominal
19	Speech-Language PathologistsMaster's degree	$84,630	$58,550 – $116,790	-13.9%+8.4% nominal
20	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,340	$30,850 – $71,330	-13.8%+8.5% nominal
21	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$100,850	$65,000 – $224,710	-12.4%+10.3% nominal
22	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$81,190	$47,080 – $119,250	-12.2%+10.5% nominal
23	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$62,090	$36,860 – $80,140	-11.6%+11.4% nominal
24	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,960	$36,010 – $74,310	-11.4%+11.6% nominal
25	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,160	$30,870 – $58,310	-11.3%+11.8% nominal
26	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$60,000	$48,640 – $75,490	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
27	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,770	$47,720 – $122,620	-11.0%+12.0% nominal
28	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$61,360	$50,190 – $77,640	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
29	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$35,960	$32,610 – $48,530	-11.0%+12.1% nominal
30	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$104,450	$73,850 – $166,210	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
31	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,300	$33,910 – $70,460	-10.8%+12.3% nominal
32	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,730	$23,740 – $76,730	-10.7%+12.5% nominal
33	Parts SalespersonsNo formal educational credential	$36,110	$27,320 – $61,060	-10.6%+12.6% nominal
34	Training and Development SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$62,280	$38,000 – $116,280	-10.5%+12.8% nominal
35	Entertainment Attendants and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$29,890	$22,820 – $39,340	-10.3%+13.0% nominal
36	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,230	$34,560 – $65,900	-10.0%+13.4% nominal
37	Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and TimekeepingAssociate's degree	$45,760	$35,740 – $59,990	-9.9%+13.4% nominal
38	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,510	$29,700 – $51,840	-9.9%+13.4% nominal
39	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$54,840	$41,290 – $77,990	-9.8%+13.6% nominal
40	Title Examiners, Abstractors, and SearchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,240	$35,880 – $78,300	-9.3%+14.2% nominal
41	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$61,700	$49,480 – $77,450	-9.1%+14.5% nominal
42	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$38,890	$32,870 – $60,170	-9.0%+14.6% nominal
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,600	$37,560 – $70,430	-8.7%+15.0% nominal
44	Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential	$47,510	$37,220 – $65,650	-8.6%+15.0% nominal
45	Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine RepairersSome college, no degree	$42,330	$35,700 – $62,530	-8.6%+15.1% nominal
46	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$61,860	$49,050 – $79,180	-8.6%+15.2% nominal
47	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$59,980	$48,100 – $76,840	-8.4%+15.4% nominal
48	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$226,830	$100,290 – $481,200	-8.4%+15.4% nominal
49	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$100,140	$67,280 – $127,500	-8.3%+15.5% nominal
50	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$37,780	$22,990 – $81,080	-8.3%+15.5% 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 lost the most to inflation in Tennessee

More for Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee

By field in Tennessee

Without a degree

Jobs that lost the most to inflation in each state