Average salary in Tennessee
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
The average salary in Tennessee is $60,800 a year and the median is $47,380, across 3,278,760 jobs (BLS May 2025). Tennessee ranks #40 of 51 for average pay.
| Average (mean) salary | $60,800 |
| Median salary | $47,380 |
| Median hourly wage | $22.78 |
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $28,600 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $103,130 |
| Take-home on the average salary (single, 2026) | $51,033 |
Highest-paying jobs in Tennessee
- Physician: $301,290
- Family Medicine Physician: $226,830
- Dentist: $215,290
- Chief Executive: $198,830
- Architectural and Engineering Manager: $161,430
- Computer and Information Systems Manager: $158,700
- Airline Pilot: $143,580
- Financial Manager: $141,010
- Purchasing Manager: $137,060
- Lawyer: $136,180
- Pharmacist: $133,390
- Marketing Manager: $131,990
- Human Resources Manager: $131,760
- Sales Manager: $128,040
- Administrative Services Manager: $127,410
- Natural Sciences Manager: $124,530
- Veterinarian: $124,350
- Computer Network Architect: $123,860
- Electronics Engineer: $122,920
- Software Engineer: $122,430
Most common jobs in Tennessee
| Job | Employed | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Laborer and Freight | 105,870 | $38,160 |
| Fast Food and Counter Worker | 90,690 | $27,470 |
| Retail Salesperson | 87,380 | $31,950 |
| Registered Nurse | 72,200 | $81,500 |
| Truck Driver | 64,890 | $58,620 |
| General and Operations Manager | 63,720 | $106,970 |
| Cashier | 63,350 | $28,590 |
| Stocker and Order Filler | 60,130 | $36,140 |
| Customer Service Representative | 59,730 | $42,830 |
| Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator | 58,760 | $44,630 |
| Waiter and Waitress | 52,120 | $27,760 |
| Office Clerk | 49,880 | $38,860 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Worker | 49,870 | $66,390 |
| Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant | 41,810 | $39,940 |
| Janitor and Cleaner | 38,120 | $33,440 |
Estimate your own paycheck with the Tennessee paycheck calculator.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates (all occupations). Highest-paying list covers the 300 largest occupations nationally.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average salary in Tennessee?
$60,800 a year (mean of all jobs), with a median of $47,380 ($22.78/hour), per BLS May 2025. Tennessee ranks #40 of 51.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Tennessee?
Physician ($301,290), Family Medicine Physician ($226,830), Dentist ($215,290), among the 300 most common occupations.
What is a good salary in Tennessee?
Earning more than the median of $47,380 puts you above half of Tennessee workers; the top 10% earn over $103,130.