Highest Paying Jobs in Knoxville, TN for 2026
In 2026, Knoxville boasts a variety of high-paying careers across several industries, including healthcare, technology, and finance. If you’re seeking lucrative job opportunities in the Knoxville area, this comprehensive guide will help you identify the most rewarding professions available today.
Using the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and other reputable sources, we present the 22 highest-paying jobs in Knoxville for 2026. While many of these top-tier positions require considerable experience, there are also well-compensated entry-level roles for candidates with the appropriate educational qualifications.
The highest-paying job in Knoxville is a Physician, with an average annual salary of $302,590 and an entry-level salary starting at $155,000.
Whether you’re contemplating a career change, considering relocating to Knoxville, or a recent graduate planning your future, this guide to the highest-paying jobs and best industries in Knoxville will assist you in making informed decisions about your next career move.
Here’s a quick overview of the top 10 highest-paying jobs in Knoxville, Tennessee:
Detailed List of Highest Paying Jobs in Knoxville
| Rank | Job Title | Average Salary | Entry Level Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physician | $302,590 | $155,000 |
| 2 | Hospitalist Physician | $262,091 | $182,000 |
| 3 | Operator and Truck Driver | $247,366 | $125,000 |
| 4 | Hospitalist | $227,755 | $150,000 |
| 5 | Neurologist | $210,368 | $120,000 |
| 6 | Adult Psychiatrist | $208,647 | $130,000 |
| 7 | Gastroenterologist | $207,791 | $127,000 |
| 8 | Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist | $201,144 | $127,000 |
| 9 | Psychiatrist | $198,298 | $121,000 |
| 10 | Primary Care Physician | $193,897 | $110,000 |
| 11 | Pediatrician | $190,582 | $122,000 |
| 12 | Family Practice Physician | $188,143 | $115,000 |
| 13 | Driver/Owner Operator | $179,894 | $71,000 |
| 14 | Family Physician | $172,827 | $98,000 |
| 15 | Loan Servicing Specialist | $172,167 | $44,000 |
| 16 | Pediatric Physician Assistant | $162,556 | $94,000 |
| 17 | Owner/Operator | $160,622 | $101,000 |
| 18 | Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist | $154,059 | $91,000 |
| 19 | Chief Executive Officer | $152,883 | $82,000 |
| 20 | Vice President | $142,083 | $92,000 |
| 21 | Health Teacher | $138,584 | $77,000 |
| 22 | General Dentist | $137,892 | $91,000 |
How We Determined the Highest Paid Jobs in Knoxville for 2026
To identify the highest-paying jobs in Knoxville, we analyzed the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Foreign Labor Certification Data Center (FLC), Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and other credible sources.
Zippia’s data science team supplements this information by continuously scanning millions of job postings daily to extract published salary data. We align these salaries with companies, locations, and job titles found in other datasets.
Finally, we calculate a weighted average of these inputs to estimate the salary for each job title in Knoxville.
Our team reviewed over 1,000 job titles in Knoxville to pinpoint the highest-paying positions.
Editor’s Note: Article updated for 2026. This marks our eighth ranking of the highest-paying jobs in Knoxville.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
