Jobs that pay well without a degree in Tennessee
49 careers in Tennessee with a median above $40,000 a year that need no college degree — 21 of them pay over $50,000. Figures are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What counts as "no degree"
Every role below can be entered without a college degree. Some still need a licence or certification — a CDL, an EPA card, a state exam — which usually takes weeks or months rather than years, and is often paid for by the employer. Those are marked.
Roles requiring an associate or bachelor's degree are deliberately excluded, even where the pay would make the list look better. Nursing, dental hygiene, sonography and radiography all pay well and none of them belong on a page like this.
Ranked by median pay in Tennessee
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1
Construction Supervisor $74,470/yr $35.80/hr
Construction supervisors and foremen run crews on site — sequencing work, keeping to programme and owning site safety. Promoted from the tools.
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2
Production Supervisor $65,310/yr $31.40/hr
Production supervisors run a manufacturing shift — the people, the output and the safety of both. Usually promoted from the floor.
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3
Industrial Mechanic $65,010/yr $31.25/hr
Industrial mechanics and millwrights install, maintain and repair the machinery that keeps plants running. One of the better-paid roles reachable without a degree.
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4
Restaurant Manager $64,410/yr $30.97/hr
Restaurant managers run the whole operation — staffing, cost control, service standards and compliance. It is the first salaried role in most food service careers.
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5
Transportation Supervisor $61,160/yr $29.40/hr
Transportation and warehouse supervisors run the people and flow of a distribution operation — shift staffing, throughput and safety.
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6
Electrician $61,090/yr $29.37/hr
Electricians install, maintain and repair electrical systems in homes, businesses and industrial sites. It is licensed work reached through a paid apprenticeship rather than college debt.
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7
Crane Operator $59,410/yr $28.56/hr
Crane operators lift and place loads on construction and industrial sites. Certification is mandatory, the responsibility is significant, and the pay reflects both.
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8
Police Officer $59,280/yr $28.50/hr
Police officers and sheriff's deputies patrol communities, respond to calls and investigate incidents. Entry is through a paid academy rather than a degree.
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9
Diesel Mechanic $59,190/yr $28.46/hr
Diesel mechanics maintain and repair trucks, buses and heavy equipment. Pay runs well above general automotive work and the skills are in short supply.
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10
Sheet Metal Worker $59,170/yr $28.45/hr
Sheet metal workers fabricate and install ductwork, roofing and metal components for HVAC, industrial and architectural work. Reached through a paid apprenticeship.
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11
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) $58,870/yr $28.30/hr
Licensed practical nurses provide hands-on nursing care under the direction of RNs and physicians, most often in long-term care, clinics and home health. Training is around a year.
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12
CDL Truck Driver $58,620/yr $28.18/hr
CDL truck drivers move freight between warehouses, ports, plants and retailers. It is licensed work with clear pay progression, and the licence itself is the main barrier to entry.
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13
Plumber $58,600/yr $28.17/hr
Plumbers install and repair water, drainage and gas systems. Like other licensed trades, entry is through a paid apprenticeship and the licence travels with you.
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14
Mail Carrier $58,570/yr $28.16/hr
Mail carriers deliver post on foot and by vehicle along a fixed route. Federal postal roles carry benefits that are unusual for work with no degree requirement.
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15
Paramedic $57,690/yr $27.74/hr
Paramedics provide advanced emergency medical care before and during transport to hospital. It is the top clinical tier of prehospital care and requires licensure.
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16
Ironworker $56,750/yr $27.28/hr
Ironworkers erect the structural steel and reinforcing that buildings and bridges are built on. Well paid, highly skilled and not for anyone uneasy at height.
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17
HVAC Technician $55,490/yr $26.68/hr
HVAC technicians install and service heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Work is seasonal in pattern but year-round in volume, and EPA certification is mandatory for refrigerants.
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18
Heavy Equipment Operator $52,000/yr $25.00/hr
Heavy equipment operators run excavators, loaders, dozers and graders on construction, mining and roadwork sites. Skilled machine time is what commands the pay.
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19
Alarm Systems Installer $51,460/yr $24.74/hr
Security and fire alarm installers fit and service alarm, access control and CCTV systems. A low-voltage trade with a shorter route in than the licensed trades.
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20
Carpenter $50,830/yr $24.44/hr
Carpenters build and install structures and fittings from wood and other materials, across residential, commercial and finish work.
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21
Automotive Technician $50,290/yr $24.18/hr
Automotive technicians diagnose and repair vehicles. Modern work is heavily diagnostic and electronic, and ASE certification is the main pay lever.
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22
Dispatcher $49,660/yr $23.88/hr
Dispatchers coordinate drivers, technicians and vehicles — assigning work, tracking progress and solving problems in real time.
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23
Machinist $49,600/yr $23.85/hr
Machinists produce precision metal parts using manual and CNC machine tools, working to tight tolerances from engineering drawings.
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24
Firefighter $49,300/yr $23.70/hr
Firefighters respond to fires, medical emergencies, crashes and rescues. Most calls are medical, so EMT certification is effectively part of the job.
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25
Bookkeeper $48,180/yr $23.16/hr
Bookkeepers record and reconcile financial transactions, manage invoices and prepare figures for accountants. Reachable without a degree through experience and certification.
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26
Welder $48,040/yr $23.10/hr
Welders join metal components across construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding and pipeline work. Pay varies enormously by process, certification and whether the work involves travel.
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27
Retail Store Manager $47,880/yr $23.02/hr
Retail store managers run a location — staffing, sales performance, stock and customer experience. Usually reached by promotion from the floor rather than direct hire.
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28
Bus Driver $47,770/yr $22.97/hr
Bus drivers transport passengers on school, transit or charter routes. It requires a commercial licence with passenger endorsement, and school routes in particular suit people wanting split shifts.
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29
Auto Body Technician $47,460/yr $22.82/hr
Auto body technicians repair collision damage — straightening structure, replacing panels and refinishing. Distinct from mechanical automotive work.
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30
Maintenance Technician $47,240/yr $22.71/hr
Maintenance technicians keep buildings and equipment running — a broad role spanning plumbing, electrical, HVAC and general repair across apartments, plants and facilities.
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31
Dental Assistant $46,720/yr $22.46/hr
Dental assistants support dentists chairside, prepare instruments and manage patient flow. Requirements vary widely by state, and some allow on-the-job training.
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32
Administrative Assistant $45,810/yr $22.02/hr
Administrative assistants keep an office running — scheduling, correspondence, records and supporting staff or executives.
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33
Quality Inspector $45,760/yr $22.00/hr
Quality inspectors check that products meet specification, using measurement tools and documented procedures. A common step up from production line work.
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34
Roofer $45,690/yr $21.97/hr
Roofers install and repair roofing systems on homes and commercial buildings. Physically demanding, weather-dependent and better paid than most entry construction work.
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35
Delivery Driver $45,050/yr $21.66/hr
Delivery drivers transport packages, food or supplies to homes and businesses on set routes. Most roles need only a standard licence, making it a common entry point into driving work.
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36
Construction Laborer $45,000/yr $21.63/hr
Construction labourers do the physical groundwork on building sites — site prep, material handling and supporting the skilled trades. It is the most common entry point into construction.
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37
Shipping & Receiving Clerk $44,920/yr $21.60/hr
Shipping and receiving clerks control what comes in and goes out of a facility — verifying, recording and routing shipments. A step up from general warehouse work.
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38
Assembler $44,630/yr $21.46/hr
Assemblers and fabricators put together products and components on manufacturing lines, from electronics to vehicles to furniture.
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39
School Bus Driver $44,510/yr $21.40/hr
School bus drivers transport students on fixed routes. Split shifts and the school calendar define the job, and districts will usually pay for your licence.
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40
Refuse Collector $43,270/yr $20.80/hr
Refuse and recycling collectors run waste routes for municipalities and private haulers. It pays notably above most other no-experience physical work.
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41
Painter $43,230/yr $20.78/hr
Construction and maintenance painters prepare and finish surfaces on buildings — residential, commercial and industrial. Low barrier to entry, real craft at the top end.
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42
Machine Operator $43,190/yr $20.76/hr
Machine operators run packaging, filling and production machinery — setting it up, keeping it running and fixing minor faults.
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43
Customer Service Representative $42,830/yr $20.59/hr
Customer service representatives handle enquiries, complaints and account issues by phone, email or chat, in call centres or increasingly from home.
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44
Driver / Sales Worker $42,220/yr $20.30/hr
Driver/sales workers deliver and sell along a route — pizza delivery, vending restocking, route sales. Tips or commission often make up a meaningful part of the pay.
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45
Forklift Operator $42,100/yr $20.24/hr
Forklift operators move pallets and heavy stock around warehouses, yards and production floors. The certification is quick to get and usually lifts your pay above general warehouse work.
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46
Pharmacy Technician $41,920/yr $20.15/hr
Pharmacy technicians prepare and dispense prescriptions under a pharmacist's supervision, in retail pharmacies, hospitals and mail-order operations.
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47
Food Service Supervisor $40,500/yr $19.47/hr
Food service supervisors run a shift — scheduling the team, keeping service moving and handling whatever goes wrong. Almost always promoted from the floor.
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48
Data Entry Clerk $40,490/yr $19.47/hr
Data entry clerks input and maintain information in databases and systems. Requirements are low and remote options are common.
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49
Production Worker $40,130/yr $19.29/hr
Production workers operate machinery and assemble products on manufacturing lines. It is a common entry point into manufacturing with clear internal progression.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Tennessee. Annual medians; hourly equivalents use 2,080 hours a year.
Other states
Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Education and licensing requirements vary by state and employer — check your own state's rules before committing to a training programme. Figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.