Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
The highest paying job in Tennessee is Cardiologists, with a median salary of $610,080 per year. Below is the complete ranking of the top 25 careers in TN based on 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
See how Tennessee compares to other states. Click any state for its top-paying jobs.
Ranked by median annual salary. Click any job to see the full salary breakdown including percentile data and state-by-state comparisons.
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiologists | $610,080 | $551,190 | 560 |
| 2 | Dermatologists | $433,630 | $359,260 | 100 |
| 3 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $354,580 | $296,570 | 360 |
| 4 | Orthodontists | $339,610 | $302,050 | N/A |
| 5 | Anesthesiologists | $330,620 | $323,070 | 840 |
| 6 | Orthopedic Surgeons, Except Pediatric | $325,520 | $341,820 | 180 |
| 7 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $232,220 | $238,020 | 1,370 |
| 8 | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $231,040 | $268,340 | 230 |
| 9 | Neurologists | $229,670 | $292,700 | 220 |
| 10 | Family Medicine Physicians | $226,830 | $284,650 | 2,260 |
| 11 | Dentists, General | $215,290 | $210,700 | 2,200 |
| 12 | Psychiatrists | $214,880 | $210,520 | 410 |
| 13 | Podiatrists | $212,470 | $191,030 | 70 |
| 14 | Nurse Anesthetists | $211,450 | $218,870 | 1,690 |
| 15 | Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $208,350 | $173,150 | 420 |
| 16 | Chief Executives | $198,830 | $239,970 | 4,700 |
| 17 | Pediatricians, General | $176,210 | $188,280 | 740 |
| 18 | Physicists | $165,010 | $171,070 | 240 |
| 19 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $161,430 | $167,280 | 3,600 |
| 20 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $158,700 | $167,270 | 12,040 |
| 21 | Air Traffic Controllers | $157,330 | $149,020 | 590 |
| 22 | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $143,580 | $142,700 | 110 |
| 23 | Acupuncturists | $141,430 | $158,380 | N/A |
| 24 | Financial Managers | $141,010 | $164,480 | 17,630 |
| 25 | Purchasing Managers | $137,060 | $153,620 | 1,460 |
The top-paying careers in Tennessee are concentrated in Healthcare Practitioners fields. The #1 job, Cardiologists, pays $540,137 more than the state average of $69,942 per year.
At the 90th percentile, experienced Cardiologists professionals in TN can earn up to $793,530 annually — making it one of the most lucrative career paths in the state.
Among the top 25, the minimum median salary is $137,060, meaning all jobs on this list pay significantly above the national average.
Average Salary in Tennessee · All Tennessee Jobs · Build My Resume →
See how Tennessee's top salaries compare to other states.
Rankings are based on median annual salary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 estimates. We use median rather than mean salary because it better represents typical earnings and is less affected by outliers.
Only occupations with state-level data published by BLS are included. Some specialized or rare occupations may not have data for every state. For full methodology details, see our Methodology page.