Tennessee Jobs and Wages
Wages, unemployment, minimum wage, benefits, visa filings and federal openings for Tennessee from BLS, the Department of Labor and USAJOBS.
- Median wage
- $47,380 a year
- May 2025
- Unemployment rate
- 3.4%
- Sep 2026
- Minimum wage
- $7.25/hr
- Federal rate applies
- Average weekly jobless benefit
- $305
- Sep 2026
Highest paying jobs in Tennessee
Occupations with at least 100 jobs
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologists | 560 | $610,080 | $551,190 |
| 2 | Dermatologists | 100 | $433,630 | $359,260 |
| 3 | Surgeons, All Other | 490 | $373,510 | $408,230 |
| 4 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | 360 | $354,580 | $296,570 |
| 5 | Anesthesiologists | 840 | $330,620 | $323,070 |
| 6 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | 180 | $325,520 | $341,820 |
| 7 | Physicians, All Other | 5,340 | $301,290 | $312,220 |
| 8 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 1,370 | $232,220 | $238,020 |
Most common jobs in Tennessee
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| # | Occupation | Employment | Median wage | Mean wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 105,870 | $38,160 | $40,020 |
| 2 | Fast Food and Counter Workers | 90,690 | $27,470 | $27,870 |
| 3 | Retail Salespersons | 87,380 | $31,950 | $35,010 |
| 4 | Registered Nurses | 72,200 | $81,500 | $85,390 |
| 5 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 64,890 | $58,620 | $60,440 |
| 6 | General and Operations Managers | 63,720 | $106,970 | $132,520 |
| 7 | Cashiers | 63,350 | $28,590 | $28,690 |
| 8 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 60,130 | $36,140 | $37,500 |
Wages by metro area
- Chattanooga, TN-GA
- Clarksville, TN-KY
- Cleveland, TN
- Jackson, TN
- Johnson City, TN
- Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
- Knoxville, TN
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Morristown, TN
- Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
- East Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
- North Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
- South Central Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
- West Tennessee nonmetropolitan area
Visa filings for jobs in this state
Employer filings with the Department of Labor
- H-1B (FY 2026 through Q3)4,456 certified, median offer $104,020
- PERM (FY 2026 through Q3)1,194 certified, median offer $58,490
Top H-1B employers in Tennessee
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| # | Employer | Certified | Median wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | 250 | $86,320 |
| 2 | Amazon.com Services LLC | 208 | $122,300 |
| 3 | Federal Express Corporation | 203 | $116,106 |
| 4 | Ut-Battelle, LLC (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) | 185 | $123,216 |
| 5 | The University of Tennessee | 104 | $87,563 |
| 6 | HCA Management Services LP | 70 | $122,117 |
| 7 | FedEx Freight, Inc. | 62 | $120,998 |
| 8 | AutoZone, Inc. | 61 | $119,636 |
More Tennessee labor data
- Unemployment by county3.4% statewide
- Jobs by industry3.39 million jobs, +0.8% in a year
- Minimum wage$7.25 an hour
- Unemployment benefits$305 a week on average
- Union membership4.8% in 2025
- Federal job openings288 open now
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median wage in Tennessee?
- The median wage for all occupations in Tennessee is $47,380 a year (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025).
- What is the unemployment rate in Tennessee?
- Tennessee's unemployment rate was 3.4% in Sep 2026 (seasonally adjusted).
- What is the highest paying job in Tennessee?
- Cardiologists have the highest median wage among occupations with at least 100 jobs in Tennessee: $610,080 a year.