Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

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

Cost of living: prices in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN run 3.7% below the national average (2024), so a Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

OccupationMedian, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN · vs. national

1Tutors$62,950
Some college, no degree
$32,520 – $89,950+45.2%
2Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$56,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,460 – $79,140+26.3%
3Dentists, General$215,290
Doctoral or professional degree
$128,100 – $340,780+25.9%
4Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$76,250
Associate's degree
$50,850 – $80,880+22.4%
5Sailors and Marine Oilers$62,610
No formal educational credential
$33,070 – $78,070+21.5%
6Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$61,320
Bachelor's degree
$43,890 – $89,040+20.5%
7Database Administrators$123,920
Bachelor's degree
$61,580 – $163,600+18.4%
8Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$59,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,690 – $117,430+17.3%
9Administrative Services Managers$133,220
Bachelor's degree
$78,280 – $217,580+16.7%
10Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$58,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,540 – $81,680+16.0%
11Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$57,650
No formal educational credential
$30,390 – $64,410+16.0%
12Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers$44,220
No formal educational credential
$28,690 – $44,220+15.5%
13Architectural and Civil Drafters$75,010
Associate's degree
$49,260 – $102,830+13.4%
14General and Operations Managers$119,990
Bachelor's degree
$59,000 – $240,110+13.4%
15Chefs and Head Cooks$70,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,960 – $105,900+12.7%
16Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other$40,370
No formal educational credential
$23,120 – $40,370+12.6%
17First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$97,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,700 – $154,420+11.8%
18Social and Community Service Managers$89,840
Bachelor's degree
$62,140 – $148,660+11.8%
19Library Assistants, Clerical$41,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,930 – $54,920+11.6%
20Driver/Sales Workers$43,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,130 – $49,350+11.4%
21Physicians, All Other$295,640
Doctoral or professional degree
$100,990 – $452,390+11.2%
22Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$46,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,970 – $52,990+10.9%
23Cooks, Fast Food$34,210
No formal educational credential
$22,340 – $38,740+10.7%
24Opticians, Dispensing$52,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $76,850+10.7%
25Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$54,400
No formal educational credential
$36,550 – $72,050+10.7%
26Butchers and Meat Cutters$44,010
No formal educational credential
$35,840 – $48,200+9.6%
27Couriers and Messengers$42,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,660 – $47,720+9.2%
28Crossing Guards and Flaggers$41,600
No formal educational credential
$36,260 – $57,620+9.2%
29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$70,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,340 – $91,790+8.5%
30Helpers--Electricians$46,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,200 – $49,430+8.4%
31Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$47,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,700 – $58,810+8.3%
32Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,320
Associate's degree
$39,880 – $108,770+8.1%
33Tool and Die Makers$69,210
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,350 – $93,220+8.1%
34Emergency Medical Technicians$47,990
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,030 – $76,380+7.9%
35File Clerks$46,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,050 – $61,040+7.8%
36Bus Drivers, School$51,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,550 – $66,150+7.7%
37Data Entry Keyers$44,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,440 – $60,360+7.6%
38First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$51,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,150 – $80,990+7.2%
39Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$51,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,470 – $52,050+7.0%
40Brickmasons and Blockmasons$66,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,670 – $75,410+6.9%
41Commercial Pilots$131,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,830 – $218,930+6.8%
42Construction Managers$122,190
Bachelor's degree
$73,550 – $195,040+6.3%
43Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors$50,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,300 – $78,490+6.1%
44Information and Record Clerks, All Other$52,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,680 – $64,940+5.9%
45Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$53,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,190 – $64,620+5.9%
46Cooks, Short Order$37,830
No formal educational credential
$25,760 – $44,060+5.4%
47First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$73,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,580 – $106,870+5.1%
48Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders$45,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,360 – $62,810+5.0%
49Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers$41,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,100 – $60,120+4.9%
50Paramedics$63,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,920 – $80,570+4.7%

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

#	Occupation	MedianNashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	TutorsSome college, no degree	$62,950	$32,520 – $89,950	+45.2%
2	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,400	$36,460 – $79,140	+26.3%
3	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$215,290	$128,100 – $340,780	+25.9%
4	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$76,250	$50,850 – $80,880	+22.4%
5	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$33,070 – $78,070	+21.5%
6	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$61,320	$43,890 – $89,040	+20.5%
7	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$123,920	$61,580 – $163,600	+18.4%
8	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,010	$40,690 – $117,430	+17.3%
9	Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree	$133,220	$78,280 – $217,580	+16.7%
10	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,700	$36,540 – $81,680	+16.0%
11	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$57,650	$30,390 – $64,410	+16.0%
12	Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and TrimmersNo formal educational credential	$44,220	$28,690 – $44,220	+15.5%
13	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$75,010	$49,260 – $102,830	+13.4%
14	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$119,990	$59,000 – $240,110	+13.4%
15	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,420	$55,960 – $105,900	+12.7%
16	Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$40,370	$23,120 – $40,370	+12.6%
17	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,860	$57,700 – $154,420	+11.8%
18	Social and Community Service ManagersBachelor's degree	$89,840	$62,140 – $148,660	+11.8%
19	Library Assistants, ClericalHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,210	$29,930 – $54,920	+11.6%
20	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,190	$27,130 – $49,350	+11.4%
21	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$295,640	$100,990 – $452,390	+11.2%
22	Helpers--Pipelayers, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,990	$37,970 – $52,990	+10.9%
23	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$34,210	$22,340 – $38,740	+10.7%
24	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,300	$37,590 – $76,850	+10.7%
25	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$54,400	$36,550 – $72,050	+10.7%
26	Butchers and Meat CuttersNo formal educational credential	$44,010	$35,840 – $48,200	+9.6%
27	Couriers and MessengersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,800	$35,660 – $47,720	+9.2%
28	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$41,600	$36,260 – $57,620	+9.2%
29	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,030	$47,340 – $91,790	+8.5%
30	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,240	$35,200 – $49,430	+8.4%
31	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,630	$29,700 – $58,810	+8.3%
32	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,320	$39,880 – $108,770	+8.1%
33	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,210	$48,350 – $93,220	+8.1%
34	Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,990	$32,030 – $76,380	+7.9%
35	File ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,990	$33,050 – $61,040	+7.8%
36	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,600	$23,550 – $66,150	+7.7%
37	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,490	$30,440 – $60,360	+7.6%
38	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,990	$33,150 – $80,990	+7.2%
39	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,290	$37,470 – $52,050	+7.0%
40	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,380	$50,670 – $75,410	+6.9%
41	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$131,590	$57,830 – $218,930	+6.8%
42	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$122,190	$73,550 – $195,040	+6.3%
43	Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness InstructorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,050	$28,300 – $78,490	+6.1%
44	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,420	$36,680 – $64,940	+5.9%
45	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,660	$39,190 – $64,620	+5.9%
46	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$37,830	$25,760 – $44,060	+5.4%
47	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,060	$46,580 – $106,870	+5.1%
48	Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,380	$36,360 – $62,810	+5.0%
49	Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,590	$27,100 – $60,120	+4.9%
50	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,450	$42,920 – $80,570	+4.7%

More for Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

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Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN to rank honestly.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

More for Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

Other metro areas in TN

By field in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN

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