Highest-paying jobs in Knoxville for high school graduates

Stacker
#50. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $53,430
- Median hourly wage: $25.69
- Total employment: 2,340 people (5.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#49. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $54,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.98
- Total employment: 480 people (1.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#48. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

- Median annual wage: $54,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.03
- Total employment: 250 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#47. Chefs and head cooks

- Median annual wage: $55,650
- Median hourly wage: $26.76
- Total employment: 440 people (1.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#46. Financial clerks, all other

- Median annual wage: $55,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.88
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#45. Highway maintenance workers

- Median annual wage: $56,220
- Median hourly wage: $27.03
- Total employment: 200 people (0.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#44. Millwrights

- Median annual wage: $56,260
- Median hourly wage: $27.05
- Total employment: 160 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#43. Crane and tower operators

- Median annual wage: $57,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.48
- Total employment: 100 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#42. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $57,300
- Median hourly wage: $27.55
- Total employment: 250 people (0.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#41. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $57,400
- Median hourly wage: $27.60
- Total employment: 2,170 people (5.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#40. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

- Median annual wage: $57,490
- Median hourly wage: $27.64
- Total employment: 520 people (1.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#39. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $57,650
- Median hourly wage: $27.72
- Total employment: 2,940 people (7.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#38. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $57,790
- Median hourly wage: $27.78
- Total employment: 740 people (1.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#37. Travel agents

- Median annual wage: $58,040
- Median hourly wage: $27.91
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#36. Brickmasons and blockmasons

- Median annual wage: $58,260
- Median hourly wage: $28.01
- Total employment: 70 people (0.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#35. Postal service mail carriers

- Median annual wage: $58,570
- Median hourly wage: $28.16
- Total employment: 990 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#34. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

- Median annual wage: $58,670
- Median hourly wage: $28.21
- Total employment: 810 people (1.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#33. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

- Median annual wage: $58,760
- Median hourly wage: $28.25
- Total employment: 1,500 people (3.6 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#32. Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners

- Median annual wage: $59,240
- Median hourly wage: $28.48
- Total employment: 80 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#31. Transportation security screeners

- Median annual wage: $59,950
- Median hourly wage: $28.82
- Total employment: 90 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#30. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $60,170
- Median hourly wage: $28.93
- Total employment: 360 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#29. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $60,460
- Median hourly wage: $29.07
- Total employment: 1,790 people (4.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Property, real estate, and community association managers (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 620 people (1.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#27. Protective service workers, all other (tie)

- Median annual wage: $60,520
- Median hourly wage: $29.10
- Total employment: 90 people (0.21 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#26. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $60,590
- Median hourly wage: $29.13
- Total employment: 670 people (1.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#25. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $60,990
- Median hourly wage: $29.32
- Total employment: 1,860 people (4.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#24. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $62,220
- Median hourly wage: $29.91
- Total employment: 2,530 people (6.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#23. Media and communication workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $62,300
- Median hourly wage: $29.95
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#22. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $63,000
- Median hourly wage: $30.29
- Total employment: 6,340 people (15.17 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#21. Maintenance workers, machinery

- Median annual wage: $63,110
- Median hourly wage: $30.34
- Total employment: 160 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#20. Rolling machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

- Median annual wage: $63,760
- Median hourly wage: $30.65
- Total employment: 300 people (0.72 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#19. Industrial machinery mechanics

- Median annual wage: $63,810
- Median hourly wage: $30.68
- Total employment: 1,300 people (3.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#18. Postal service clerks

- Median annual wage: $64,020
- Median hourly wage: $30.78
- Total employment: 160 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#17. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $64,320
- Median hourly wage: $30.92
- Total employment: 630 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#16. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $64,870
- Median hourly wage: $31.19
- Total employment: 80 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#15. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $65,120
- Median hourly wage: $31.31
- Total employment: 2,580 people (6.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $65,820
- Median hourly wage: $31.64
- Total employment: 560 people (1.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $67,980
- Median hourly wage: $32.68
- Total employment: 270 people (0.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#12. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $71,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.42
- Total employment: 1,730 people (4.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#11. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $71,790
- Median hourly wage: $34.52
- Total employment: 100 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#10. Hazardous materials removal workers

- Median annual wage: $74,130
- Median hourly wage: $35.64
- Total employment: 210 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#9. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $75,010
- Median hourly wage: $36.06
- Total employment: 50 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#8. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $75,850
- Median hourly wage: $36.47
- Total employment: 230 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#7. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $76,230
- Median hourly wage: $36.65
- Total employment: 50 people (0.11 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#6. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $77,180
- Median hourly wage: $37.10
- Total employment: 620 people (1.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $80,830
- Median hourly wage: $38.86
- Total employment: 570 people (1.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#4. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $82,680
- Median hourly wage: $39.75
- Total employment: 100 people (0.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#3. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $88,350
- Median hourly wage: $42.47
- Total employment: 510 people (1.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#2. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $96,160
- Median hourly wage: $46.23
- Total employment: 30 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

#1. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $98,220
- Median hourly wage: $47.22
- Total employment: 110 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock