Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

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

Cost of living: prices in Memphis, TN-MS-AR run 7.8% below the national average (2024), so a Memphis, TN-MS-AR 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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR

OccupationMedian, Memphis, TN-MS-AR · vs. national

1Private Detectives and Investigators$99,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,450 – $101,030+94.6%
2Physicians, All Other$388,960
Doctoral or professional degree
$173,990 – $520,830+46.3%
3Aircraft Service Attendants$56,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,060 – $57,610+40.0%
4Dentists, General$238,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$72,420 – $276,050+39.2%
5Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$65,420
Bachelor's degree
$44,580 – $79,490+28.6%
6Transportation Workers, All Other$56,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,120 – $66,650+24.6%
7Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$128,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$46,720 – $211,190+20.1%
8Medical Transcriptionists$47,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$23,130 – $62,420+17.5%
9Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$59,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,920 – $80,410+16.9%
10General Internal Medicine Physicians$298,620
Doctoral or professional degree
$65,820 – $322,260+16.4%
11Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$92,180
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,900 – $169,740+15.4%
12Tutors$49,640
Some college, no degree
$28,690 – $84,910+14.5%
13Administrative Services Managers$130,580
Bachelor's degree
$73,920 – $274,320+14.4%
14Couriers and Messengers$44,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,450 – $44,870+12.3%
15Paramedics$66,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,320 – $77,880+10.3%
16Light Truck Drivers$48,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,360 – $93,470+7.8%
17Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$63,070
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,200 – $96,150+7.6%
18Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$38,530
No formal educational credential
$28,220 – $38,550+7.5%
19Cargo and Freight Agents$55,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,790 – $95,220+7.0%
20Firefighters$62,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,290 – $70,460+6.1%
21Chefs and Head Cooks$66,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,630 – $98,080+6.0%
22Protective Service Workers, All Other$45,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,540 – $82,970+5.9%
23Purchasing Managers$156,830
Bachelor's degree
$96,420 – $281,580+5.9%
24Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,340 – $78,500+5.9%
25Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$48,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,740 – $65,990+5.8%
26Social and Community Service Managers$84,930
Bachelor's degree
$57,190 – $140,710+5.6%
27Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$53,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $77,950+5.4%
28First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services Workers$67,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,500 – $75,820+5.2%
29Family Medicine Physicians$256,240
Doctoral or professional degree
$123,450 – $634,140+4.9%
30Driver/Sales Workers$40,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,580 – $52,770+4.7%
31Medical Records Specialists$53,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,560 – $95,530+3.8%
32Nurse Anesthetists$243,240
Master's degree
$184,170 – $246,470+2.8%
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$71,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $105,860+2.6%
34Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers$34,740
No formal educational credential
$21,910 – $35,960+2.2%
35Budget Analysts$93,450
Bachelor's degree
$66,900 – $135,410+2.0%
36Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$97,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,700 – $116,770+1.9%
37Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$52,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,200 – $71,390+1.9%
38Facilities Managers$108,610
Bachelor's degree
$73,140 – $172,250+1.8%
39Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$64,000
Bachelor's degree
$39,270 – $98,610+1.7%
40Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $58,090+1.7%
41Public Safety Telecommunicators$53,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,330 – $73,270+1.5%
42Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$65,290
Master's degree
$45,620 – $84,550+1.5%
43Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$45,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $61,270+1.2%
44Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $106,330+1.1%
45First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$49,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,960 – $78,280+1.0%
46Machinists$59,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,630 – $74,340+0.8%
47Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030+0.8%
48Opticians, Dispensing$47,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,870 – $76,850+0.8%
49Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$47,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$22,500 – $75,610+0.8%
50Education Administrators, Postsecondary$105,080
Master's degree
$68,460 – $316,460+0.5%

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

#	Occupation	MedianMemphis, TN-MS-AR	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Private Detectives and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,680	$37,450 – $101,030	+94.6%
2	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$388,960	$173,990 – $520,830	+46.3%
3	Aircraft Service AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,620	$38,060 – $57,610	+40.0%
4	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$238,040	$72,420 – $276,050	+39.2%
5	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$65,420	$44,580 – $79,490	+28.6%
6	Transportation Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,870	$26,120 – $66,650	+24.6%
7	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,860	$46,720 – $211,190	+20.1%
8	Medical TranscriptionistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,470	$23,130 – $62,420	+17.5%
9	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,270	$38,920 – $80,410	+16.9%
10	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$298,620	$65,820 – $322,260	+16.4%
11	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$92,180	$52,900 – $169,740	+15.4%
12	TutorsSome college, no degree	$49,640	$28,690 – $84,910	+14.5%
13	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$130,580	$73,920 – $274,320	+14.4%
14	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,040	$36,450 – $44,870	+12.3%
15	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,830	$47,320 – $77,880	+10.3%
16	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,350	$35,360 – $93,470	+7.8%
17	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,070	$44,200 – $96,150	+7.6%
18	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$38,530	$28,220 – $38,550	+7.5%
19	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,930	$46,790 – $95,220	+7.0%
20	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,910	$36,290 – $70,460	+6.1%
21	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,230	$42,630 – $98,080	+6.0%
22	Protective Service Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,040	$34,540 – $82,970	+5.9%
23	Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree	$156,830	$96,420 – $281,580	+5.9%
24	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,470	$50,340 – $78,500	+5.9%
25	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,510	$32,740 – $65,990	+5.8%
26	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$84,930	$57,190 – $140,710	+5.6%
27	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,080	$35,980 – $77,950	+5.4%
28	First-Line Supervisors of Gambling Services WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,120	$46,500 – $75,820	+5.2%
29	Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$256,240	$123,450 – $634,140	+4.9%
30	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,610	$21,580 – $52,770	+4.7%
31	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,100	$38,560 – $95,530	+3.8%
32	Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree	$243,240	$184,170 – $246,470	+2.8%
33	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,310	$44,560 – $105,860	+2.6%
34	Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender HelpersNo formal educational credential	$34,740	$21,910 – $35,960	+2.2%
35	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$93,450	$66,900 – $135,410	+2.0%
36	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,150	$61,700 – $116,770	+1.9%
37	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,290	$35,200 – $71,390	+1.9%
38	Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree	$108,610	$73,140 – $172,250	+1.8%
39	Clinical Laboratory Technologists and TechniciansBachelor's degree	$64,000	$39,270 – $98,610	+1.7%
40	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,140	$38,110 – $58,090	+1.7%
41	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,820	$37,330 – $73,270	+1.5%
42	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$65,290	$45,620 – $84,550	+1.5%
43	Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,800	$35,880 – $61,270	+1.2%
44	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$49,450 – $106,330	+1.1%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,010	$28,960 – $78,280	+1.0%
46	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,220	$39,630 – $74,340	+0.8%
47	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	+0.8%
48	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,620	$32,870 – $76,850	+0.8%
49	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,560	$22,500 – $75,610	+0.8%
50	Education Administrators, PostsecondaryMaster's degree	$105,080	$68,460 – $316,460	+0.5%

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

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Memphis, TN-MS-AR

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