Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Knoxville, TN

Each occupation's median wage in Knoxville, TN 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 Knoxville, TN pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Knoxville, TN run 7.4% below the national average (2024), so a Knoxville, TN salary is worth about 1.08× 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 Knoxville, TN

OccupationMedian, Knoxville, TN · vs. national

1Family Medicine Physicians$460,080
Doctoral or professional degree
$189,830 – $621,030+88.4%
2Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians$91,440
Associate's degree
$64,480 – $98,000+52.6%
3Hazardous Materials Removal Workers$75,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,230 – $113,050+52.2%
4Education Administrators, All Other$127,720
Bachelor's degree
$67,410 – $161,370+34.2%
5Nuclear Engineers$179,660
Bachelor's degree
$96,700 – $300,340+34.1%
6Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary$100,220
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,330 – $155,080+18.4%
7Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary$129,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$78,700 – $210,960+18.3%
8Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$58,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,980 – $71,860+17.0%
9Facilities Managers$120,740
Bachelor's degree
$71,630 – $167,110+13.2%
10Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$57,100
Bachelor's degree
$38,860 – $76,650+12.2%
11Administrative Services Managers$125,470
Bachelor's degree
$77,030 – $202,810+9.9%
12Social and Community Service Managers$88,240
Bachelor's degree
$60,290 – $128,080+9.8%
13Architectural and Civil Drafters$72,180
Associate's degree
$48,640 – $109,170+9.1%
14Couriers and Messengers$42,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $43,940+8.7%
15Interpreters and Translators$64,770
Bachelor's degree
$29,630 – $83,320+7.6%
16Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$51,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,600 – $63,710+7.2%
17Industrial Machinery Mechanics$69,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,540 – $83,030+7.2%
18Helpers--Production Workers$41,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,570 – $50,690+5.8%
19Veterinary Technologists and Technicians$50,010
Associate's degree
$35,420 – $61,020+5.6%
20Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$44,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,970 – $48,210+5.2%
21Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary$101,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,370 – $208,060+4.9%
22Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$99,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,680 – $105,650+4.7%
23Insurance Sales Agents$65,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,820 – $207,580+4.5%
24Business Teachers, Postsecondary$103,010
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,530 – $319,760+4.0%
25Education Teachers, Postsecondary$78,330
Doctoral or professional degree
$60,590 – $125,180+4.0%
26Physicians, All Other$276,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$170,090 – $508,910+3.9%
27Opticians, Dispensing$49,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,510 – $70,730+3.8%
28Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,330 – $103,970+3.6%
29Tutors$44,840
Some college, no degree
$28,540 – $75,970+3.4%
30Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$51,030
No formal educational credential
$24,830 – $60,200+2.7%
31Driver/Sales Workers$39,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,450 – $51,110+2.7%
32Sales and Related Workers, All Other$49,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,040 – $113,030+2.4%
33Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030+2.4%
34Food Batchmakers$42,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,830 – $57,980+1.7%
35Nursing Instructors and Teachers, Postsecondary$81,600
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,480 – $123,900+1.7%
36Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary$64,490
Bachelor's degree
$38,230 – $83,880+1.0%
37Computer Network Support Specialists$76,820
Associate's degree
$49,710 – $101,770+0.8%
38Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$59,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,670 – $79,040+0.8%
39Postsecondary Teachers, All Other$78,020
Doctoral or professional degree
$54,280 – $127,280+0.5%
40Chefs and Head Cooks$62,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,670 – $99,050+0.5%
41Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$35,970
No formal educational credential
$21,610 – $37,740+0.4%
42Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters$46,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $61,110+0.4%
43Packers and Packagers, Hand$36,410
No formal educational credential
$24,710 – $45,540+0.4%
44Printing Press Operators$45,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,770 – $58,490+0.3%
45Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,820 – $59,910+0.1%
46Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,0300.0%
47Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,860 – $52,6900.0%
48Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,040 – $63,4100.0%
49Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,050
Associate's degree
$51,680 – $81,050-0.4%
50Sheet Metal Workers$61,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,140 – $77,290-0.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianKnoxville, TN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$460,080	$189,830 – $621,030	+88.4%
2	Environmental Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$91,440	$64,480 – $98,000	+52.6%
3	Hazardous Materials Removal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,280	$40,230 – $113,050	+52.2%
4	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$127,720	$67,410 – $161,370	+34.2%
5	Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree	$179,660	$96,700 – $300,340	+34.1%
6	Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$100,220	$62,330 – $155,080	+18.4%
7	Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$129,240	$78,700 – $210,960	+18.3%
8	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,680	$36,980 – $71,860	+17.0%
9	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$120,740	$71,630 – $167,110	+13.2%
10	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$57,100	$38,860 – $76,650	+12.2%
11	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$125,470	$77,030 – $202,810	+9.9%
12	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$88,240	$60,290 – $128,080	+9.8%
13	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$72,180	$48,640 – $109,170	+9.1%
14	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,610	$34,670 – $43,940	+8.7%
15	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$64,770	$29,630 – $83,320	+7.6%
16	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,170	$39,600 – $63,710	+7.2%
17	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,140	$48,540 – $83,030	+7.2%
18	Helpers--Production WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,330	$31,570 – $50,690	+5.8%
19	Veterinary Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$50,010	$35,420 – $61,020	+5.6%
20	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,550	$36,970 – $48,210	+5.2%
21	Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$101,710	$64,370 – $208,060	+4.9%
22	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,780	$58,680 – $105,650	+4.7%
23	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,060	$37,820 – $207,580	+4.5%
24	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$103,010	$67,530 – $319,760	+4.0%
25	Education Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$78,330	$60,590 – $125,180	+4.0%
26	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$276,370	$170,090 – $508,910	+3.9%
27	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,050	$36,510 – $70,730	+3.8%
28	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,820	$47,330 – $103,970	+3.6%
29	TutorsSome college, no degree	$44,840	$28,540 – $75,970	+3.4%
30	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$51,030	$24,830 – $60,200	+2.7%
31	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,800	$20,450 – $51,110	+2.7%
32	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,420	$20,040 – $113,030	+2.4%
33	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$54,330 – $75,030	+2.4%
34	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,990	$28,830 – $57,980	+1.7%
35	Nursing Instructors and Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$81,600	$66,480 – $123,900	+1.7%
36	Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondaryBachelor's degree	$64,490	$38,230 – $83,880	+1.0%
37	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,820	$49,710 – $101,770	+0.8%
38	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,100	$39,670 – $79,040	+0.8%
39	Postsecondary Teachers, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$78,020	$54,280 – $127,280	+0.5%
40	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,770	$42,670 – $99,050	+0.5%
41	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$35,970	$21,610 – $37,740	+0.4%
42	Cabinetmakers and Bench CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,890	$37,180 – $61,110	+0.4%
43	Packers and Packagers, HandNo formal educational credential	$36,410	$24,710 – $45,540	+0.4%
44	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,920	$28,770 – $58,490	+0.3%
45	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,320	$31,820 – $59,910	+0.1%
46	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$42,600 – $75,030	0.0%
47	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,920	$40,860 – $52,690	0.0%
48	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,750	$37,040 – $63,410	0.0%
49	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$62,050	$51,680 – $81,050	-0.4%
50	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,340	$39,140 – $77,290	-0.7%

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