Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

Each occupation's median wage in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA run 13.6% below the national average (2024), so a Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

OccupationMedian, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · vs. national

1Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$71,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,290 – $71,610+54.5%
2Family Medicine Physicians$352,590
Doctoral or professional degree
$202,510 – $441,770+44.4%
3Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$66,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $77,670+28.8%
4Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,080 – $56,540+23.5%
5Community and Social Service Specialists, All Other$68,280
Bachelor's degree
$39,240 – $85,120+20.4%
6Tutors$51,080
Some college, no degree
$31,010 – $80,560+17.8%
7Medical Transcriptionists$44,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,580 – $48,140+10.8%
8Optometrists$150,420
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,080 – $167,600+10.1%
9Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $78,960+7.9%
10Administrative Services Managers$122,130
Bachelor's degree
$68,490 – $197,380+7.0%
11Industrial Production Managers$133,240
Bachelor's degree
$82,500 – $211,510+5.7%
12Rehabilitation Counselors$49,450
Master's degree
$25,810 – $72,960+5.5%
13Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,950
Associate's degree
$53,060 – $91,600+4.6%
14Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$55,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,780 – $69,130+3.6%
15Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic$47,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,720 – $50,910+3.4%
16Social and Community Service Managers$83,070
Bachelor's degree
$59,990 – $127,740+3.3%
17First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,530 – $105,440+3.2%
18Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$43,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,020 – $49,840+2.3%
19Protective Service Workers, All Other$43,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,650 – $69,170+2.2%
20Bus Drivers, School$48,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,240 – $62,820+1.9%
21Production Workers, All Other$40,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,330 – $62,410+1.8%
22Dentists, General$173,810
Doctoral or professional degree
$84,500 – $290,210+1.7%
23Construction Managers$116,980
Bachelor's degree
$76,740 – $169,480+1.7%
24Millwrights$66,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $74,570+1.3%
25Helpers--Electricians$43,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,940 – $62,400+1.1%
26Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,570
No formal educational credential
$20,900 – $45,430+0.8%
27Medical Equipment Preparers$48,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,730 – $62,570+0.7%
28Facilities Managers$106,020
Bachelor's degree
$62,030 – $169,170-0.6%
29Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$73,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $89,770-0.7%
30Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, Recordkeeping$46,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,440 – $49,290-0.8%
31Machinists$57,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $76,010-1.5%
32Dental Laboratory Technicians$48,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,760 – $77,520-1.5%
33Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,280
No formal educational credential
$22,990 – $37,790-1.6%
34Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030-1.7%
35Computer Network Architects$131,420
Bachelor's degree
$82,340 – $162,000-2.0%
36Driver/Sales Workers$37,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,800 – $56,870-2.0%
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-2.5%
38Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$47,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,980 – $81,900-2.9%
39Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $77,640-3.4%
40Occupational Therapists$96,790
Master's degree
$58,170 – $116,720-3.5%
41Construction Laborers$45,370
No formal educational credential
$33,890 – $66,240-3.7%
42Highway Maintenance Workers$48,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,580 – $57,270-3.9%
43Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,640 – $78,180-3.9%
44Physical Therapists$98,690
Doctoral or professional degree
$68,240 – $122,360-4.0%
45Helpers--Production Workers$37,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,170 – $48,820-4.0%
46Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $60,090-4.1%
47Stockers and Order Fillers$35,760
No formal educational credential
$28,820 – $45,300-4.2%
48Industrial Engineers$98,000
Bachelor's degree
$71,020 – $130,020-4.3%
49Security Guards$36,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,410 – $52,310-4.6%
50Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$59,680
Bachelor's degree
$47,410 – $71,800-4.8%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianKingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,610	$34,290 – $71,610	+54.5%
2	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$352,590	$202,510 – $441,770	+44.4%
3	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,110	$38,110 – $77,670	+28.8%
4	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,750	$40,080 – $56,540	+23.5%
5	Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$68,280	$39,240 – $85,120	+20.4%
6	TutorsSome college, no degree	$51,080	$31,010 – $80,560	+17.8%
7	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$44,790	$36,580 – $48,140	+10.8%
8	OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree	$150,420	$60,080 – $167,600	+10.1%
9	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,680	$36,160 – $78,960	+7.9%
10	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$122,130	$68,490 – $197,380	+7.0%
11	Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,240	$82,500 – $211,510	+5.7%
12	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$49,450	$25,810 – $72,960	+5.5%
13	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,950	$53,060 – $91,600	+4.6%
14	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,690	$37,780 – $69,130	+3.6%
15	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,720	$36,720 – $50,910	+3.4%
16	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$83,070	$59,990 – $127,740	+3.3%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,820	$47,530 – $105,440	+3.2%
18	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,350	$35,020 – $49,840	+2.3%
19	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,490	$36,650 – $69,170	+2.2%
20	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,820	$28,240 – $62,820	+1.9%
21	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,840	$30,330 – $62,410	+1.8%
22	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$173,810	$84,500 – $290,210	+1.7%
23	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$116,980	$76,740 – $169,480	+1.7%
24	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,560	$47,850 – $74,570	+1.3%
25	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,120	$30,940 – $62,400	+1.1%
26	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,570	$20,900 – $45,430	+0.8%
27	Medical Equipment PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,050	$33,730 – $62,570	+0.7%
28	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$106,020	$62,030 – $169,170	-0.6%
29	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,830	$37,460 – $89,770	-0.7%
30	Weighers, Measurers, Checkers, and Samplers, RecordkeepingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,020	$35,440 – $49,290	-0.8%
31	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,890	$35,980 – $76,010	-1.5%
32	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,880	$38,760 – $77,520	-1.5%
33	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$35,280	$22,990 – $37,790	-1.6%
34	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	-1.7%
35	Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$131,420	$82,340 – $162,000	-2.0%
36	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,980	$20,800 – $56,870	-2.0%
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,040	-2.5%
38	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,160	$34,980 – $81,900	-2.9%
39	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,300	$42,940 – $77,640	-3.4%
40	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$96,790	$58,170 – $116,720	-3.5%
41	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$45,370	$33,890 – $66,240	-3.7%
42	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,310	$37,580 – $57,270	-3.9%
43	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,670	$31,640 – $78,180	-3.9%
44	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$98,690	$68,240 – $122,360	-4.0%
45	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,490	$30,170 – $48,820	-4.0%
46	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,620	$37,440 – $60,090	-4.1%
47	Stockers and Order FillersNo formal educational credential	$35,760	$28,820 – $45,300	-4.2%
48	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$98,000	$71,020 – $130,020	-4.3%
49	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36,270	$28,410 – $52,310	-4.6%
50	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$59,680	$47,410 – $71,800	-4.8%

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

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