State Median Salary
$81,087
Total DOL Filings
53,912
Companies Hiring
25+
Cost of Living Index
90.3
National average = 100
Tennessee vs National Average
Tennessee
$81,087
National Average (BLS)
$49,500
Tennessee median DOL salary is +63.8% above the national average.
Top Cities by Hiring Activity in Tennessee
| City | DOL Filings | Median Salary | Top Employer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 14,184 | $81,343 | Synechron Inc |
| Memphis, TN | 11,737 | $79,511 | ST JUDE CHILDRENS RESEARCH HOSPITAL |
| Collierville, TN | 5,282 | $73,685 | FedEx Corporate Services, Inc. |
| Franklin, TN | 4,482 | $79,650 | Tech Mahindra (Americas) Inc. |
| Brentwood, TN | 3,413 | $80,645 | Tata Consultancy Services Limited |
| Chattanooga, TN | 2,721 | $80,673 | BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc. |
| Knoxville, TN | 2,170 | $85,952 | The University of Tennessee |
| Oak Ridge, TN | 1,601 | $88,444 | UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) |
| Hermitage, TN | 535 | $99,142 | Deloitte LLP |
| Cordova, TN | 467 | $79,278 | Smith & Nephew, Inc. |
Top Employers in Tennessee
Highest-Paying Occupations in Tennessee
| Job Title | Median Salary | vs BLS State | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $275,000 | N/A | 25 |
| Chief Executives | $200,000 | +15% | 33 |
| Dentists, General | $131,931 | -14.6% | 16 |
| Pharmacists | $112,000 | -14.7% | 67 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $110,000 | +10.8% | 67 |
| Software Developers | $107,034 | -8.8% | 14 |
| Optometrists | $106,444 | -3.8% | 10 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $100,000 | -35% | 73 |
| Computer Systems Analysts | $99,000 | +20.1% | 25 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $96,132 | -35.9% | 587 |
| Nuclear Engineers | $93,930 | N/A | 46 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $90,792 | -35.4% | 35 |
| Marketing Managers | $90,000 | -30.9% | 117 |
| Industrial Production Managers | $90,000 | -15.4% | 49 |
| Mining and Geological Engineers, Including Mining Safety Engineers | $89,691 | -9.4% | 8 |
| Financial Managers | $88,900 | -33.2% | 55 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $85,506 | +11.2% | 8 |
| Purchasing Managers | $85,400 | -35.8% | 30 |
| Sales Managers | $85,000 | -33.1% | 35 |
| Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | $85,000 | -22.3% | 93 |
BLS Wage Survey - Tennessee
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, state-level occupational wages (all workers, not just sponsored positions).| Occupation | BLS Median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Family Medicine Physicians | $229,050 | 2,520 |
| Neurologists | $228,350 | 290 |
| Podiatrists | $213,180 | 80 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $203,400 | 2,360 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $178,730 | 520 |
| Pediatricians, General | $176,150 | 910 |
| Orthodontists | $174,830 | N/A |
| Chief Executives | $173,870 | 5,360 |
| Physicists | $173,660 | 260 |
| Law Teachers, Postsecondary | $171,280 | 190 |
| Psychiatrists | $166,470 | 300 |
| Petroleum Engineers | $164,240 | 50 |
| Dentists, General | $154,460 | 1,470 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $153,920 | 3,610 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $153,670 | 610 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $149,990 | 11,720 |
| Sales Engineers | $144,030 | 1,040 |
| Fashion Designers | $142,500 | 40 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $140,430 | N/A |
| Psychologists, All Other | $135,570 | 240 |
Cost of Living Analysis
How far does your salary actually go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a cost of living index of
90.3 (national average = 100), meaning it is
9.7% less expensive than the national average.
A salary of $100,000 in Tennessee has the purchasing power equivalent of
$110,742 in a city at the national average cost of living.
Top Occupations - COL-Adjusted Salary
| Job Title | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Physicians, All Other | $275,000 | $304,540 |
| Chief Executives | $200,000 | $221,484 |
| Dentists, General | $131,931 | $146,102 |
| Pharmacists | $112,000 | $124,031 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $110,000 | $121,816 |
Salary Trend in Tennessee
Median DOL-filed salary by fiscal yearPopular Searches in Tennessee
Compare Tennessee to Another State
See how Tennessee stacks up against other states.Source: US Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) public disclosure files (PERM Form ETA-9089 and LCA Form ETA-9035), and US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Salary figures represent employer filings and government survey estimates, not individual worker pay.