High-Paying Jobs in Tennessee - 20,000 Jobs Increase - Trucking, Logistics, Healthcare

Beyond a Bachelor's Degree.

The following high demand occupations in Tennessee require higher certifications than a Bachelor's Degree. Specifically, they require a Professional Degree, Masters or PhD, MBA, and/or some additional standard state Certifications and Licenses. Average wages are based on 2010 - 2011 averages.

1. Financial Managers - $60,100 average wages or salary per year
2. Pharmacists $95,300
3. Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes $55,700
4. Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers $27,500

1. Computer Software Engineers, Systems Software $67,200
2. Computer Software Engineers, Applications $63,600
3. Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists $45,700
4. Accountants and Auditors $43,800
5. Elementary School Teachers (Except Special Education) $39,600
6. Special Education Teachers: Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary $39,200

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRE FIGHTERS

• Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers $33,700
• Fire Fighters $33,800

MAINTENANCE

• General Maintenance and Repair Workers $30,400

HEALTHCARE

• Dental Assistants $29,700

FINANCIAL SECTOR

• Bill and Account Collectors $27,000
• Loan Interviewers and Clerks $26,300

This position also requires higher than a Bachelor's Degree:

• Mental Health Counselors $28,100

Associate Degree (2 yrs.) or Vocational Training post-High School

• Physical Therapist Assistants $39,900
• Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists $33,300
• Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians $27,600

Previous Related Work Experience - Degrees often not required.

• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Police and Detectives $49,100
• Detectives and Criminal Investigators $45,400
• First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers $28,500

• Tennessee Colleges, Universities, and Vocational Training Programs; and Independent Job Exploration -- Determine your career interests and locate good training opportunities at this URL: www.tcids.utk.edu/
• See current Tennessee Standard Wages: 700 different occupations in Tennessee:
• Visit Tennessee Regional Career Centers
• Visit Youth Employment Opportunities in Tennessee: Summer and Year-round

From among 79,800 job vacancies gathered across Internet job postings, the following jobs are the most prevalent. Notice the increase of jobs over Summer 2010 by nearly 20,000 openings and that the Top 3 Jobs are all in Trucking, with Warehousing/Logistics taking up 5 and 6. Even Manufacturing is increasing.

1. Company Truck Drivers
2. Regional Flatbed Truck Drivers
3. Owner Operators - Trucking
4. Occupational Therapists
5. Physical Therapists
6. Warehousing
7. Material Handling
8. Pharmacists
9. Dentists
10. Physicians
11. RN and LPN Nurses
12. Fast Food - Primarily Pizza Hut
13. Manufacturing Jobs
14. Drug Store Sales Floor Supervisors
15. Assistant Managers - Retail, food service, coffee shop, other.

Approximately 60,000 job openings appeared in Internet listings around the State of Tennessee after the July 4th weekend of 2010.

Highest-Demand Jobs:

1. Occupational Therapists
2. Physical Therapists
3. Assistant Managers
4. Physicians for Family Practice speciality
5. Physicians for Internal Medicine
6. Store Managers
7. Cashiers
8. Registered Nurses (RN)
9. Retail Sales Representatives
10. Team Member - Retail and food chains.
11. Restaurant General Managers
12. Retail Sales Associates

Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Jackson, Franklin, Brentwood, Clarksville, Johnson City, Murfreesboro.

According to Tennessee Labor and Workforce Development:

The job of File Clerk will lose the highest percentage of its openings through 2014 in Tennessee. This job loss among all of the declining jobs in the state is the result of any or all of the following factors:

1. Attrition as workers retire (their jobs are not filled after they leave),
2. A decreased demand for the product or service provided by the occupation,
3. The combining of two or more positions into a single position for one employee,
4. Company mergers that result in fewer job opportunities,
5. Plant closings resulting from decreased product or service demand, an economic downturn, or financial difficulties,
6. Additional digital automation that combines or eliminates positions,
7. Expanded use of temporary workers to whom benefits and perks are not paid,
8. Outsourcing of jobs,
9. Other

Sewing Machine Operators are being replaced with computerized sewing machines and the import of sew products form foreign manufacturers is further reducing the need for domestic (USA-based) sewing machine workers. In addition to this, increasing numbers of items produced today do not require sewing, because of fibers and fabrics that can be glued or melded without needles and threads.

Computer Operators may be losing jobs to temporary workers and outsourcing positions to the overseas labor marketplace. With additional on the job training and/or education, the individuals that los jobs in this category of employment may be able to enter a higher level of Information Technology employment for greater opportunity and pay. Many companies offer professional development opportunities to their workers that may include some forms of more advance ITY training. In addition, there are a variety of accredited schools in Tennessee that offer IT training, including online distance-learning courses.