Ranking · original analysis of BLS and O*NET data
Highest-paying jobs in Tennessee
The 40 best-paid occupations in Tennessee with at least 100 people employed, by state median wage.
Quick answer
The highest-paying occupation in Tennessee with at least 100 people employed was Cardiologist, with a state median of $610,080 (BLS May 2025).
The ranking
40 occupations
Data Every figure is from BLS OEWS May 2025 or O*NET 31.0; the selection rule is below.
| # | Occupation | Median pay in Tennessee | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologist | $610,080 | 560 |
| 2 | Dermatologist | $433,630 | 100 |
| 3 | Surgeons, All Other | $373,510 | 490 |
| 4 | OB-GYN | $354,580 | 360 |
| 5 | Anesthesiologist | $330,620 | 840 |
| 6 | Orthopedic Surgeon | $325,520 | 180 |
| 7 | Physicians, All Other | $301,290 | 5,340 |
| 8 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $232,220 | 1,370 |
| 9 | Ophthalmologist | $231,040 | 230 |
| 10 | Neurologist | $229,670 | 220 |
| 11 | Family Medicine Physician | $226,830 | 2,260 |
| 12 | Dentist | $215,290 | 2,200 |
| 13 | Psychiatrist | $214,880 | 410 |
| 14 | CRNA | $211,450 | 1,690 |
| 15 | Judge | $208,350 | 420 |
| 16 | CEO | $198,830 | 4,700 |
| 17 | Pediatrician | $176,210 | 740 |
| 18 | Physicist | $165,010 | 240 |
| 19 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $161,430 | 3,600 |
| 20 | IT Manager | $158,700 | 12,040 |
| 21 | Air Traffic Controller | $157,330 | 590 |
| 22 | Airline Pilot | $143,580 | 110 |
| 23 | Financial Manager | $141,010 | 17,630 |
| 24 | Psychologists, All Other | $138,070 | 200 |
| 25 | Purchasing Manager | $137,060 | 1,460 |
| 26 | Lawyer | $136,180 | 9,010 |
| 27 | Optometrist | $134,170 | 660 |
| 28 | Pharmacist | $133,390 | 8,250 |
| 29 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | $132,780 | 670 |
| 30 | Ship Captain | $132,710 | 940 |
| 31 | Marketing Manager | $131,990 | 7,730 |
| 32 | HR Manager | $131,760 | 4,310 |
| 33 | Physical Scientists, All Other | $129,570 | 120 |
| 34 | Aerospace Engineer | $128,510 | 610 |
| 35 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $128,270 | 350 |
| 36 | Sales Manager | $128,040 | 12,270 |
| 37 | Administrative Services Managers | $127,410 | 8,170 |
| 38 | Public Relations Manager | $127,390 | 700 |
| 39 | Natural Sciences Managers | $124,530 | 880 |
| 40 | Veterinarian | $124,350 | 1,730 |
Method
How this page is built
BLS OEWS state estimates for Tennessee, May 2025: occupations with at least 100 people employed and a published median, ranked by median annual wage.
What this page can't tell you
Sources- Pay at a specific employer or for self-employed workers.
- Openings in your area: these are national figures.
- Whether a job suits you personally.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.