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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Database Architects | Technology | $115K | $55.37/hr |
| 62 | Sales Engineers | Sales | $112K | $53.64/hr |
| 63 | Construction Managers | Management | $110K | $52.98/hr |
| 64 | Actuaries | Technology | $109K | $52.37/hr |
| 65 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | Technology | $109K | $52.32/hr |
| 66 | Life Scientists, All Other | Science | $109K | $52.3/hr |
| 67 | Fundraising Managers | Management | $108K | $51.81/hr |
| 68 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | Legal | $108K | $51.8/hr |
| 69 | Medical and Health Services Managers | Management | $107K | $51.5/hr |
| 70 | General and Operations Managers | Management | $107K | $51.43/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