Highest paying jobs in Knoxville, TN
The best paying occupations in the Knoxville, TN metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.
Cost of living: prices here run 7.4% below the national average (2024).
Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025
| # | Occupation | MedianKnoxville, TN | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $460,080 | $189,830 – $621,030 | 590 |
| 2 | Obstetricians and GynecologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $365,260 | $56,380 – $370,590 | 30 |
| 3 | General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree | $314,020 | $148,060 – $496,790 | 100 |
| 4 | Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree | $276,370 | $170,090 – $508,910 | 690 |
| 5 | Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree | $213,900 | $140,420 – $237,700 | 220 |
| 6 | Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree | $198,890 | $66,940 – $444,320 | 510 |
| 7 | Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree | $179,660 | $96,700 – $300,340 | 240 |
| 8 | PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree | $165,010 | $104,890 – $225,520 | 120 |
| 9 | Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $164,720 | $164,720 – $232,030 | — |
| 10 | Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree | $162,950 | $99,400 – $239,560 | 610 |
| 11 | Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $162,850 | $72,810 – $269,150 | 30 |
| 12 | Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree | $157,900 | $84,360 – $259,320 | 220 |
| 13 | Biochemists and BiophysicistsDoctoral or professional degree | $149,140 | $129,330 – $229,640 | 30 |
| 14 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and MagistratesDoctoral or professional degree | $148,580 | $69,840 – $212,230 | 40 |
| 15 | Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree | $143,650 | $95,610 – $219,970 | 1,380 |
| 16 | Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree | $141,130 | $77,400 – $366,370 | 170 |
| 17 | Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree | $140,660 | $77,790 – $182,940 | 90 |
| 18 | Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree | $139,530 | $87,000 – $211,940 | 210 |
| 19 | Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree | $136,990 | $73,920 – $196,120 | 60 |
| 20 | Financial ManagersBachelor's degree | $133,570 | $63,900 – $262,970 | 2,090 |
| 21 | PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree | $132,460 | $85,160 – $159,200 | 990 |
| 22 | Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree | $132,200 | $83,290 – $233,640 | 530 |
| 23 | Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree | $131,040 | $79,410 – $258,450 | 930 |
| 24 | Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and InspectorsBachelor's degree | $129,840 | $77,710 – $170,960 | 50 |
| 25 | Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $129,240 | $78,700 – $210,960 | 370 |
| 26 | Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree | $127,720 | $67,410 – $161,370 | 160 |
| 27 | LawyersDoctoral or professional degree | $126,520 | $77,800 – $263,220 | 1,250 |
| 28 | Administrative Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $125,470 | $77,030 – $202,810 | 990 |
| 29 | OptometristsDoctoral or professional degree | $125,090 | $47,830 – $164,930 | 80 |
| 30 | Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award | $123,000 | $54,760 – $201,560 | 80 |
| 31 | Software DevelopersBachelor's degree | $121,750 | $68,880 – $161,870 | 2,390 |
| 32 | VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree | $121,160 | $100,470 – $170,290 | 260 |
| 33 | Facilities ManagersBachelor's degree | $120,740 | $71,630 – $167,110 | 360 |
| 34 | Industrial Production ManagersBachelor's degree | $120,020 | $76,900 – $202,600 | 750 |
| 35 | Sales ManagersBachelor's degree | $119,380 | $68,510 – $234,160 | 1,410 |
| 36 | Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree | $118,020 | $84,590 – $154,300 | 80 |
| 37 | Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree | $117,480 | $78,930 – $161,510 | 480 |
| 38 | Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $115,920 | $105,370 – $119,080 | 90 |
| 39 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree | $115,230 | $42,480 – $207,480 | 40 |
| 40 | Training and Development ManagersBachelor's degree | $112,990 | $76,110 – $168,540 | 90 |
| 41 | Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree | $109,740 | $85,210 – $135,170 | 1,630 |
| 42 | Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree | $108,590 | $75,120 – $166,210 | 630 |
| 43 | Physician AssistantsMaster's degree | $107,980 | $91,640 – $141,670 | 240 |
| 44 | Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree | $107,100 | $66,370 – $182,500 | 90 |
| 45 | General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree | $104,590 | $51,410 – $253,540 | 8,660 |
| 46 | Medical and Health Services ManagersBachelor's degree | $104,250 | $67,290 – $191,990 | 1,880 |
| 47 | Sales EngineersBachelor's degree | $104,170 | $76,610 – $143,500 | 110 |
| 48 | Communications Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $103,320 | $49,980 – $165,060 | 90 |
| 49 | Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree | $103,010 | $67,530 – $319,760 | 260 |
| 50 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree | $102,720 | $59,680 – $153,770 | 640 |