Knoxville Employment

Employment and Industries in the Knoxville, Tennessee Area

Knoxville is at the center of the Tennessee Valley Corridor, which is known for its high-tech industry. Knoxville has a diversified economy. The University of Tennessee at Knoxville, the nearby U.S. Department of Energy facility, and the Tennessee Valley Authority headquarters have important economic roles for the region. These institutions participate in a technology transfer program that has led to the creation of numerous businesses. The region also includes an unusually high number of incubator facilities.

Knoxville is the home of numerous manufacturing firms, distribution and warehousing companies and several telemarketing divisions of large companies. Knoxville also includes a thriving tourist industry due to being near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other attractions. Other significant economic factors are zinc and coal mining, tobacco, livestock and dairy products and food crops. The professional, scientific and technical services sector and the food services industry are growing sectors for the economy.

Employment is provided by companies producing items such as manufactured housing, motor vehicle supplies, clothing, aluminum products, processed foods, plastics and pleasure boats.

Tennessee's FastTrack Training Services Program offers financial assistance for new and expanding companies and industry training. The program's representatives work with companies to create customized training programs.

The Knoxville region's largest employers:

  • Covenant Health
  • The University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • Knox County Public School System
  • Walmart Stores
  • St. Mary's Health System
  • Baptists Health System of East Tennessee
  • City of Knoxville
  • University of Tennessee Medical Center
  • Clayton Homes
  • State of Tennessee Regional Offices
  • Aluminum Company of America
  • Denso Manufacturing Tennessee
  • Food City
  • Blount Memorial Hospital
  • Kroger Company
  • U.S. Postal Service
  • Tennessee Valley Authority
  • Sea Ray Boats
  • DeRoyal Industries
  • East Tennessee Children's Hospital

Knoxville's primary nonagricultural job providing sectors:

  • Trade, transportation and utilities
  • Government
  • Leisure and hospitality
  • Manufacturing
  • Professional and business services
  • Health services
  • Educational services

Noteworthy information about Knoxville, Tennessee: Estimated median household income in 2007: $34,000. Cost of living index in 2008: 82.5 (U.S. average: 100). Adult population which has earned a bachelor's degree or higher: 25%.

Local companies have access to useful associations including:

Local business and economic news is provided by the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Jobs in Knoxville

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations381940$45,450$21.85100
2Office and Administrative Support Occupations58120$36,660$17.6313.75
3Sales and Related Occupations38310$37,150$17.869.5
4Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations35910$22,810$10.978.7
5Transportation and Material Moving Occupations34200$33,520$16.116.7
6Production Occupations27730$38,840$18.675.6
7Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations25500$70,100$33.75.85
8Management Occupations24350$97,670$46.966.35
9Educational Instruction and Library Occupations19370$50,610$24.336
10Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations16480$44,870$21.573.75
11Business and Financial Operations Occupations15630$64,660$31.095.35
12Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations14030$25,650$12.333.6
13Construction and Extraction Occupations13550$41,490$19.954.6
14Healthcare Support Occupations12900$29,050$13.972.85
15Cashiers11710$21,790$10.482.2
16Customer Service Representatives11350$30,710$14.771.75
17Retail Salespersons11020$30,090$14.472.7
18Office Clerks, General8900$34,350$16.511.9
19Computer and Mathematical Occupations8460$71,270$34.263
20Stockers and Order Fillers8160$26,480$12.731.25
21Registered Nurses7890$59,140$28.431.95
22Architecture and Engineering Occupations7600$82,820$39.821.7
23Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand7540$30,440$14.631.8
24Fast Food and Counter Workers7510$20,490$9.852.45
25Waiters and Waitresses7460$19,420$9.341.65
26Personal Care and Service Occupations7450$26,150$12.574.65
27Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners7250$23,520$11.311.5
28Protective Service Occupations7140$39,970$19.212.2
29Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers6850$43,260$20.81.2
30General and Operations Managers6410$107,240$51.561.5
31Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive5930$35,990$17.31.4
32Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators5150$32,850$15.790.8
33Community and Social Service Occupations5080$41,670$20.041.75
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers4940$55,390$26.630.95
35Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks4400$40,360$19.41.05
36Nursing Assistants4200$26,770$12.870.95
37Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations4140$49,420$23.761.8
38Food Preparation Workers3970$22,280$10.710.5
39First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers3850$42,150$20.260.95
40Maintenance and Repair Workers, General3820$39,120$18.810.9
41Cooks, Restaurant3730$25,410$12.220.9
42Home Health and Personal Care Aides3440$23,010$11.060
43Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations3350$68,860$33.110.8
44Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses3090$39,900$19.180.5
45First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers2990$36,390$17.490.6
46Cooks, Fast Food2740$19,920$9.580.3
47Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other2680$74,180$35.660.7
48Construction Laborers2650$34,380$16.530.9
49Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics2570$37,890$18.220.5
50Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners2510$20,250$9.740.9
51Receptionists and Information Clerks2470$29,270$14.070.7
52Legal Occupations2430$83,890$40.330.8
53Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products2430$61,960$29.790.85
54Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers2380$28,460$13.680.75
55Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other2380$80,450$38.680.7
56Light Truck Drivers2190$39,730$19.10.6
57Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks2190$33,110$15.920.4
58Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel2120$52,770$25.370.7
59Electricians2110$47,420$22.80.45
60Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers2090$84,610$40.680.65
61First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers2080$63,030$30.30.4
62Financial Managers2050$97,340$46.80.4
63Accountants and Auditors2030$71,460$34.360.9
64Security Guards1980$29,850$14.350.7
65Medical Assistants1960$32,750$15.740.45
66Computer User Support Specialists1810$45,120$21.690.4
67Production Workers, All Other1790$51,050$24.540.15
68Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products1780$80,420$38.670.2
69Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop1720$19,950$9.590.3
70Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers1670$41,970$20.180.4
71Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers1670$42,410$20.390.3
72Childcare Workers1580$21,470$10.320.7
73Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers1560$42,250$20.310.35
74Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants1490$32,330$15.540.4
75Billing and Posting Clerks1420$36,980$17.780.3
76Tellers1420$27,320$13.130.25
77First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers1380$63,760$30.660.3
78Nurse Practitioners1360$100,140$48.150.1
79First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1350$55,020$26.450.4
80First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors1310$53,790$25.860.3
81Human Resources Specialists1310$53,130$25.540.4
82Pharmacy Technicians1310$30,080$14.460.3
83Dishwashers1260$21,180$10.180.3
84Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists1260$29,560$14.210.4
85Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity1230$26,760$12.860.3
86Medical and Health Services Managers1220$96,040$46.180.3
87Industrial Machinery Mechanics1190$51,990$250.2
88Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists1190$56,650$27.230.45
89Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians1160$47,650$22.910.2
90Lawyers1130$118,590$57.010.5
91Driver/Sales Workers1090$26,850$12.910.3
92Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Takers1080$19,390$9.320.1
93Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks1040$46,880$22.540.2
94Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers1030$40,860$19.650.2
95Packers and Packagers, Hand1020$25,910$12.460.4
96Buyers and Purchasing Agents1010$55,050$26.470.25
97Carpenters1010$39,990$19.230.6
98Correctional Officers and Jailers1010$34,640$16.650.25
99Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators990$35,020$16.840.4
100Pharmacists990$114,250$54.930.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Knoxville Colleges
Knoxville colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Knoxville Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,450381,940
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,66058,120
Sales and Related Occupations$37,15038,310
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$22,81035,910
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$33,52034,200
Production Occupations$38,84027,730
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$70,10025,500
Management Occupations$97,67024,350
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$50,61019,370
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$44,87016,480
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,66015,630
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,65014,030
Construction and Extraction Occupations$41,49013,550
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,05012,900
Cashiers$21,79011,710
Customer Service Representatives$30,71011,350
Retail Salespersons$30,09011,020
Office Clerks, General$34,3508,900
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$71,2708,460
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,4808,160
Registered Nurses$59,1407,890
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,8207,600
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,4407,540
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,4907,510
Waiters and Waitresses$19,4207,460
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,1507,450
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,5207,250
Protective Service Occupations$39,9707,140
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$43,2606,850
General and Operations Managers$107,2406,410
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$35,9905,930
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$32,8505,150
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,6705,080
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,3904,940
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,3604,400
Nursing Assistants$26,7704,200
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$49,4204,140
Food Preparation Workers$22,2803,970
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$42,1503,850
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$39,1203,820
Cooks, Restaurant$25,4103,730
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$23,0103,440
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$68,8603,350
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$39,9003,090
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,3902,990
Cooks, Fast Food$19,9202,740
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$74,1802,680
Construction Laborers$34,3802,650
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$37,8902,570
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$20,2502,510

Work Paying Relatively Well in the Knoxville, Tennessee Metro Area (2008 data)

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,450381,940
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$36,66058,120
Sales and Related Occupations$37,15038,310
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$33,52034,200
Production Occupations$38,84027,730
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$70,10025,500
Management Occupations$97,67024,350
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$50,61019,370
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$44,87016,480
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,66015,630
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$25,65014,030
Construction and Extraction Occupations$41,49013,550
Healthcare Support Occupations$29,05012,900
Customer Service Representatives$30,71011,350
Retail Salespersons$30,09011,020
Office Clerks, General$34,3508,900
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$71,2708,460
Stockers and Order Fillers$26,4808,160
Registered Nurses$59,1407,890
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$82,8207,600
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,4407,540
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,1507,450
Protective Service Occupations$39,9707,140
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$43,2606,850
General and Operations Managers$107,2406,410
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$35,9905,930
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$32,8505,150
Community and Social Service Occupations$41,6705,080
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,3904,940
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$40,3604,400
Nursing Assistants$26,7704,200
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$49,4204,140
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$42,1503,850
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$39,1203,820
Cooks, Restaurant$25,4103,730
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$68,8603,350
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$39,9003,090
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$36,3902,990
Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other$74,1802,680
Construction Laborers$34,3802,650
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$37,8902,570
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,2702,470
Legal Occupations$83,8902,430
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,9602,430
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$28,4602,380
Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other$80,4502,380
Light Truck Drivers$39,7302,190
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$33,1102,190
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$52,7702,120
Electricians$47,4202,110

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