Top Paying Jobs in Tennessee
Tennessee has 100 tracked occupation categories totaling 343,280 jobs. The highest-paying occupations include Cardiologists ($610,080), Dermatologists ($433,630), Surgeons, All Other ($373,510). The cost of living index is 89.78 (national average = 100). Median 2-bedroom rent is $1,215/month.
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State-level averages. Salaries, rent, and cost of living vary significantly between metros. For more accurate data, select a metro area from the list below or browse all metros.
$149K
Avg. median salary
89.78
Cost of living index
$1,215
Median 2BR rent
10,353,784
Population
Highest paying careers in Tennessee
| Rank | Occupation | Category | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | Management | $161K | $77.61/hr |
| 22 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | Management | $159K | $76.3/hr |
| 23 | Air Traffic Controllers | Transportation | $157K | $75.64/hr |
| 24 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | Transportation | $144K | N/A |
| 25 | Acupuncturists | Healthcare | $141K | $68/hr |
| 26 | Financial Managers | Management | $141K | $67.79/hr |
| 27 | Psychologists, All Other | Science | $138K | $66.38/hr |
| 28 | Purchasing Managers | Management | $137K | $65.89/hr |
| 29 | Lawyers | Legal | $136K | $65.47/hr |
| 30 | Medical Dosimetrists | Healthcare | $136K | $65.16/hr |
Affordability snapshot: Tennessee
These are statewide averages. Costs vary widely between metros, click into a specific city for precise numbers.
Cost of living vs. national average-10.2% less expensive
2-bedroom apartment (FMR)$1,215/mo
Planning a move? Compare costs with other locations:
Metro areas in Tennessee
Click a metro for detailed salary, rent, and cost-of-living data specific to that area.
Chattanooga
$1,390/mo rentRPP 91.5
Clarksville$1,346/mo rentRPP 90.9
Cleveland$1,233/mo rentRPP 88.1
Jackson$1,260/mo rentRPP 85.5
Johnson City$1,132/mo rentRPP 87.9
Kingsport-Bristol$1,044/mo rentRPP 86.4
Knoxville$1,471/mo rentRPP 92.6
Memphis$777/mo rentRPP 92.2
Morristown$1,135/mo rentRPP 86.4
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin$1,470/mo rentRPP 96.3
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Monthly budget breakdown with HUD and BLS data