Memphis Employment

Employment and Industries in the Memphis, Tennessee Area

Memphis, Tennessee is an ideal location for manufacturing and distribution companies due to its central location and its transportation infrastructure. Although the manufacturing sector has declined its still an important part of the economy. Services are now the largest economic element in Memphis. Industries with significant roles for the city are food processing, financial services, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. Memphis also has a noteworthy film industry. Memphis is also a major cotton market and an important center for hardwood and wood and paper products.

The Memphis economy is bolstered by numerous nationally and internationally known businesses including about 150 companies from 22 countries. The city is the headquarters for FedEx Corporation, International Paper and Fred's Stores. Federal Express Corporation is the largest employer in Memphis, Tennessee. The Memphis International Airport is one of the world's busiest airports regarding cargo tonnage. Other companies with a large presence in the region are Belz Enterprises, AutoZone Incorporated, First Horizon National Corporation, Harrah's, Cargill Cotton, and Hilton.

The science and technology sectors are represented by companies such as Buckman Laboratories, Brother Industries USA, Morgan-Keegan, Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Sharp Manufacturing of America, Wright Medical Technologies and Smith & Nephew.

Memphis has been placed in the top 8 of the 50 best major metro areas in the country for starting and growing a business by Inc Magazine. Memphis was named as one of the most successful models for economic development in the south by Southern Business and Development magazine. In addition, the agri-research sector, health related industries and high-tech bio sector are regarded as having strong growth potential.

Shown below is a list of the largest employers in Memphis, Tennessee:

  • Federal Express Corporation
  • Memphis City Schools
  • United States Government
  • Methodist Healthcare
  • Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corp
  • Shelby County Government
  • Memphis City Government
  • Naval Support Activity Mid-South
  • Tennessee State Government
  • Shelby County Schools
  • University of Tennessee Memphis
  • Park Place Entertainment
  • Internal Revenue Service
  • United Postal Service
  • Kroger Delta Marketing
  • International Paper
  • First Tennessee Bank
  • University of Memphis
  • St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
  • Horseshoe Casino & Hotel

The city's major nonagricultural employment segments:

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

Details about Memphis, Tennessee: Estimated median household income in 2007: $35,000. Cost of living index in 2008: 82.4 (national average: 100). Adult population that has earned a bachelor's degree or higher: 21%.

Some of the organizations that offer information and help to local businesses are:

The Memphis Business Journal offers details about local business and industry.

Jobs in Memphis

RankTitleTotal EmployeesLocal Mean Salary (Per Year)Local Mean Salary (Per hour)National Growth % 2014-2024
1All Occupations632600$45,360$21.81100
2Transportation and Material Moving Occupations107020$35,660$17.156.7
3Office and Administrative Support Occupations87440$38,480$18.513.75
4Sales and Related Occupations58170$40,320$19.389.5
5Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations52180$22,290$10.728.7
6Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations41960$72,230$34.735.85
7Production Occupations40760$37,130$17.855.6
8Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand39160$30,100$14.471.8
9Management Occupations35880$104,030$50.016.35
10Educational Instruction and Library Occupations33260$53,080$25.526
11Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations23300$47,370$22.783.75
12Business and Financial Operations Occupations23110$64,720$31.115.35
13Healthcare Support Occupations21460$28,420$13.662.85
14Protective Service Occupations21110$39,530$192.2
15Retail Salespersons19050$27,930$13.432.7
16Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations18420$26,860$12.913.6
17Construction and Extraction Occupations18330$42,730$20.544.6
18Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers16150$44,700$21.491.2
19Cashiers15400$21,670$10.422.2
20Stockers and Order Fillers13900$29,590$14.231.25
21Personal Care and Service Occupations13550$26,770$12.874.65
22Registered Nurses13180$66,730$32.081.95
23Office Clerks, General12550$33,640$16.171.9
24Customer Service Representatives12010$36,780$17.691.75
25Fast Food and Counter Workers11680$20,440$9.832.45
26Waiters and Waitresses10340$20,860$10.031.65
27Computer and Mathematical Occupations10230$72,110$34.673
28General and Operations Managers10050$114,470$55.031.5
29Security Guards9160$26,670$12.820.7
30Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners8670$24,210$11.641.5
31Light Truck Drivers8650$37,730$18.140.6
32Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive8330$37,700$18.131.4
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers7310$55,920$26.880.95
34Home Health and Personal Care Aides7210$21,440$10.310
35Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks7120$31,920$15.340.4
36Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks6600$43,330$20.831.05
37Architecture and Engineering Occupations6550$71,880$34.561.7
38Community and Social Service Occupations6550$46,600$22.411.75
39Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators6190$30,970$14.890.8
40Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators5980$35,190$16.920.4
41First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers5570$47,200$22.690.95
42Maintenance and Repair Workers, General5370$39,800$19.140.9
43Food Preparation Workers5280$20,160$9.690.5
44Nursing Assistants5280$28,030$13.480.95
45Cooks, Fast Food5230$19,900$9.570.3
46Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations5120$46,460$22.331.8
47Packers and Packagers, Hand5100$25,590$12.30.4
48First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors5080$60,210$28.950.3
49Cooks, Restaurant4760$24,200$11.640.9
50Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners4330$23,250$11.180.9
51Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses4170$44,280$21.290.5
52Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations4170$65,080$31.290.8
53Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel4020$60,580$29.130.7
54First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers3760$34,490$16.580.6
55Production Workers, All Other3650$25,610$12.320.15
56Medical Assistants3630$34,170$16.430.45
57Receptionists and Information Clerks3580$29,070$13.980.7
58Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products3490$72,780$34.990.85
59Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers3480$50,110$24.090.4
60Construction Laborers3400$31,970$15.370.9
61Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians3330$58,530$28.140.2
62Project Management Specialists and Business Operations Specialists, All Other3210$60,900$29.280.7
63Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers3200$26,440$12.710.75
64Personal Service Managers, All Other; Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling; and Managers, All Other3110$81,750$39.30.7
65Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics3080$50,600$24.330.5
66Legal Occupations3000$81,060$38.970.8
67Accountants and Auditors2990$74,330$35.730.9
68First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers2910$59,490$28.60.4
69Childcare Workers2820$21,360$10.270.7
70Human Resources Specialists2750$58,370$28.070.4
71Financial Managers2710$117,340$56.410.4
72Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products2550$77,600$37.310.2
73Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants2480$34,010$16.350.4
74Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers2460$37,920$18.230.35
75Electricians2450$47,690$22.930.45
76Passenger Vehicle Drivers, Except Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity2450$24,310$11.690.3
77Pharmacy Technicians2350$39,920$19.190.3
78Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop2190$20,170$9.70.3
79Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders2130$31,130$14.970.2
80First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers1920$68,410$32.890.3
81Tellers1920$28,970$13.930.25
82Correctional Officers and Jailers1890$46,290$22.260.25
83Firefighters1880$48,560$23.350.2
84Billing and Posting Clerks1850$38,670$18.590.3
85Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks1840$44,880$21.580.2
86Medical and Health Services Managers1780$114,580$55.090.3
87Pharmacists1760$120,120$57.750.2
88Software Developers and Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers1730$83,640$40.210.65
89Computer User Support Specialists1720$46,730$22.470.4
90Food Service Managers1700$45,810$22.020.2
91First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers1690$61,260$29.450.4
92Management Analysts1690$78,650$37.810.55
93Computer Systems Analysts1680$74,470$35.80.4
94Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers1590$47,280$22.730.2
95Lawyers1570$109,480$52.640.5
96Bartenders1560$22,990$11.050.4
97Carpenters1550$40,590$19.520.6
98Food Batchmakers1510$40,390$19.420.1
99Dishwashers1490$21,000$10.10.3
100Financial and Investment Analysts, Financial Risk Specialists, and Financial Specialists, All Other1490$68,030$32.710.2
Source: 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov
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Additional Details

Memphis Colleges
Memphis colleges and trade schools.

Jobs More Common Near Memphis Than Most Other Cities

* Average job popularity for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,360632,600
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,660107,020
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,48087,440
Sales and Related Occupations$40,32058,170
Food Preparation and Serving Related Occupations$22,29052,180
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$72,23041,960
Production Occupations$37,13040,760
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,10039,160
Management Occupations$104,03035,880
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,08033,260
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,37023,300
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,72023,110
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,42021,460
Protective Service Occupations$39,53021,110
Retail Salespersons$27,93019,050
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,86018,420
Construction and Extraction Occupations$42,73018,330
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,70016,150
Cashiers$21,67015,400
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,59013,900
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,77013,550
Registered Nurses$66,73013,180
Office Clerks, General$33,64012,550
Customer Service Representatives$36,78012,010
Fast Food and Counter Workers$20,44011,680
Waiters and Waitresses$20,86010,340
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$72,11010,230
General and Operations Managers$114,47010,050
Security Guards$26,6709,160
Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$24,2108,670
Light Truck Drivers$37,7308,650
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,7008,330
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,9207,310
Home Health and Personal Care Aides$21,4407,210
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$31,9207,120
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,3306,600
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$71,8806,550
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,6006,550
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$30,9706,190
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$35,1905,980
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,2005,570
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$39,8005,370
Food Preparation Workers$20,1605,280
Nursing Assistants$28,0305,280
Cooks, Fast Food$19,9005,230
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$46,4605,120
Packers and Packagers, Hand$25,5905,100
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,2105,080
Cooks, Restaurant$24,2004,760
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners$23,2504,330

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

* Average Salary Index for metro areas = 1.0

TitleMean Local SalaryLocal Jobs
All Occupations$45,360632,600
Transportation and Material Moving Occupations$35,660107,020
Office and Administrative Support Occupations$38,48087,440
Sales and Related Occupations$40,32058,170
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations$72,23041,960
Production Occupations$37,13040,760
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand$30,10039,160
Management Occupations$104,03035,880
Educational Instruction and Library Occupations$53,08033,260
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations$47,37023,300
Business and Financial Operations Occupations$64,72023,110
Healthcare Support Occupations$28,42021,460
Protective Service Occupations$39,53021,110
Retail Salespersons$27,93019,050
Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations$26,86018,420
Construction and Extraction Occupations$42,73018,330
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$44,70016,150
Stockers and Order Fillers$29,59013,900
Personal Care and Service Occupations$26,77013,550
Registered Nurses$66,73013,180
Office Clerks, General$33,64012,550
Customer Service Representatives$36,78012,010
Computer and Mathematical Occupations$72,11010,230
General and Operations Managers$114,47010,050
Security Guards$26,6709,160
Light Truck Drivers$37,7308,650
Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$37,7008,330
First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$55,9207,310
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks$31,9207,120
Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,3306,600
Architecture and Engineering Occupations$71,8806,550
Community and Social Service Occupations$46,6006,550
Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$30,9706,190
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$35,1905,980
First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$47,2005,570
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$39,8005,370
Nursing Assistants$28,0305,280
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations$46,4605,120
Packers and Packagers, Hand$25,5905,100
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,2105,080
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$44,2804,170
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations$65,0804,170
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,5804,020
First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$34,4903,760
Production Workers, All Other$25,6103,650
Medical Assistants$34,1703,630
Receptionists and Information Clerks$29,0703,580
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,7803,490
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$50,1103,480
Construction Laborers$31,9703,400

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