Healthcare HQs (HCA), music, tech relocation. The complete 2026 Nashville pay reference for 100 occupations.
Sorted highest to lowest. Click any role for full detail.
| # | Job | Category | Median 2026 | 25th % | 75th % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEO (Mid-Market) | Business & Management | $482,800 | $366,900 | $627,600 |
| 2 | Surgeon | Healthcare | $397,200 | $301,800 | $516,300 |
| 3 | Chief Financial Officer | Finance | $363,600 | $276,300 | $472,600 |
| 4 | Physician (MD/DO) | Healthcare | $256,100 | $194,600 | $332,900 |
| 5 | Corporate Lawyer | Legal | $218,300 | $165,900 | $283,800 |
| 6 | Investment Banker | Finance | $198,000 | $150,500 | $257,400 |
| 7 | Dentist | Healthcare | $188,100 | $143,000 | $244,600 |
| 8 | AI Engineer | Technology | $187,200 | $142,300 | $243,400 |
| 9 | Machine Learning Engineer | Technology | $171,300 | $130,200 | $222,700 |
| 10 | Senior Software Engineer | Technology | $167,300 | $127,200 | $217,500 |
| 11 | Site Reliability Engineer | Technology | $161,400 | $122,600 | $209,800 |
| 12 | IT Manager | Technology | $157,400 | $119,600 | $204,600 |
| 13 | Controller | Finance | $154,400 | $117,300 | $200,700 |
| 14 | Judge / Magistrate | Legal | $154,400 | $117,300 | $200,700 |
| 15 | Management Consultant | Business & Management | $152,900 | $116,200 | $198,700 |
| 16 | Product Manager | Technology | $151,400 | $115,100 | $196,800 |
| 17 | Lawyer / Attorney | Legal | $150,300 | $114,200 | $195,400 |
| 18 | Petroleum Engineer | Engineering | $148,800 | $113,100 | $193,500 |
| 19 | Sales Engineer | Sales | $148,800 | $113,100 | $193,500 |
| 20 | Data Scientist | Technology | $147,400 | $112,000 | $191,600 |
| 21 | Marketing Manager | Business & Management | $145,800 | $110,800 | $189,600 |
| 22 | Pharmacist | Healthcare | $144,200 | $109,600 | $187,500 |
| 23 | Account Executive (SaaS) | Sales | $142,800 | $108,500 | $185,700 |
| 24 | Data Engineer | Technology | $141,400 | $107,500 | $183,900 |
| 25 | Cloud Engineer (AWS/Azure) | Technology | $141,400 | $107,500 | $183,900 |
| 26 | Sales Manager | Business & Management | $138,800 | $105,500 | $180,400 |
| 27 | DevOps Engineer | Technology | $137,400 | $104,500 | $178,700 |
| 28 | Physician Assistant (PA) | Healthcare | $135,900 | $103,300 | $176,600 |
| 29 | Nurse Practitioner (NP) | Healthcare | $133,800 | $101,700 | $173,900 |
| 30 | HR Manager | Business & Management | $132,800 | $100,900 | $172,600 |
| 31 | Aerospace Engineer | Engineering | $132,800 | $100,900 | $172,600 |
| 32 | Software Engineer | Technology | $131,500 | $99,900 | $170,900 |
| 33 | Mobile Developer (iOS/Android) | Technology | $131,500 | $99,900 | $170,900 |
| 34 | Actuary | Finance | $130,000 | $98,800 | $169,000 |
| 35 | Backend Developer | Technology | $129,500 | $98,400 | $168,300 |
| 36 | Cybersecurity Analyst | Technology | $127,500 | $96,900 | $165,700 |
| 37 | Veterinarian | Healthcare | $127,500 | $96,900 | $165,800 |
| 38 | Full-Stack Developer | Technology | $124,500 | $94,600 | $161,800 |
| 39 | General Manager | Business & Management | $122,700 | $93,300 | $159,500 |
| 40 | Chemical Engineer | Engineering | $118,700 | $90,200 | $154,300 |
| 41 | Frontend Developer | Technology | $117,500 | $89,300 | $152,800 |
| 42 | Construction Manager | Skilled Trades | $112,900 | $85,800 | $146,700 |
| 43 | Electrical Engineer | Engineering | $112,600 | $85,600 | $146,400 |
| 44 | Database Administrator (DBA) | Technology | $111,600 | $84,800 | $145,000 |
| 45 | College Professor | Education | $110,700 | $84,200 | $144,000 |
| 46 | School Principal | Education | $110,700 | $84,200 | $144,000 |
| 47 | Operations Manager | Business & Management | $108,600 | $82,600 | $141,200 |
| 48 | Supply Chain Manager | Business & Management | $108,600 | $82,600 | $141,200 |
| 49 | Art Director | Creative & Media | $107,600 | $81,800 | $139,800 |
| 50 | Physical Therapist | Healthcare | $106,600 | $81,000 | $138,600 |
| 51 | Financial Analyst | Finance | $106,600 | $81,000 | $138,600 |
| 52 | Project Manager (PMP) | Business & Management | $105,600 | $80,300 | $137,300 |
| 53 | Biomedical Engineer | Engineering | $105,600 | $80,300 | $137,300 |
| 54 | UX / Product Designer | Technology | $104,600 | $79,500 | $136,000 |
| 55 | Civil Engineer | Engineering | $102,600 | $78,000 | $133,400 |
| 56 | Mechanical Engineer | Engineering | $102,600 | $78,000 | $133,400 |
| 57 | Data Analyst | Technology | $101,600 | $77,200 | $132,100 |
| 58 | Occupational Therapist | Healthcare | $100,300 | $76,300 | $130,400 |
| 59 | Financial Advisor | Finance | $99,500 | $75,600 | $129,400 |
| 60 | Industrial Engineer | Engineering | $98,600 | $74,900 | $128,100 |
| 61 | QA / Test Engineer | Technology | $97,600 | $74,200 | $126,900 |
| 62 | Business Analyst | Business & Management | $95,500 | $72,600 | $124,200 |
| 63 | Dental Hygienist | Healthcare | $92,000 | $69,900 | $119,600 |
| 64 | Registered Nurse (RN) | Healthcare | $89,900 | $68,300 | $116,900 |
| 65 | Insurance Underwriter | Finance | $89,400 | $67,900 | $116,200 |
| 66 | Animator | Creative & Media | $87,600 | $66,600 | $113,900 |
| 67 | Tax Accountant | Finance | $87,300 | $66,400 | $113,500 |
| 68 | Credit Analyst | Finance | $85,300 | $64,800 | $110,900 |
| 69 | Accountant / CPA | Finance | $83,300 | $63,300 | $108,300 |
| 70 | Respiratory Therapist | Healthcare | $81,500 | $62,000 | $106,000 |
| 71 | Sales Representative | Sales | $78,400 | $59,600 | $102,000 |
| 72 | Police Officer | Public Service | $76,900 | $58,400 | $100,000 |
| 73 | Radiologic Technologist | Healthcare | $75,300 | $57,200 | $97,800 |
| 74 | Hotel Manager | Hospitality | $74,500 | $56,600 | $96,900 |
| 75 | Electrician | Skilled Trades | $71,100 | $54,000 | $92,400 |
| 76 | High School Teacher | Education | $69,700 | $53,000 | $90,600 |
| 77 | Special Education Teacher | Education | $69,700 | $53,000 | $90,600 |
| 78 | Plumber | Skilled Trades | $69,000 | $52,400 | $89,700 |
| 79 | Elementary Teacher | Education | $67,700 | $51,400 | $88,000 |
| 80 | Video Editor | Creative & Media | $67,700 | $51,500 | $88,000 |
| 81 | Social Media Manager | Creative & Media | $67,700 | $51,500 | $88,000 |
| 82 | Interior Designer | Creative & Media | $67,700 | $51,500 | $88,000 |
| 83 | Real Estate Agent | Real Estate | $65,700 | $50,000 | $85,500 |
| 84 | School Counselor | Education | $65,600 | $49,900 | $85,300 |
| 85 | Heavy Equipment Operator | Skilled Trades | $64,800 | $49,200 | $84,200 |
| 86 | Chef / Head Cook | Hospitality | $64,200 | $48,800 | $83,400 |
| 87 | Firefighter | Public Service | $63,600 | $48,300 | $82,600 |
| 88 | Paralegal | Legal | $63,000 | $47,900 | $81,900 |
| 89 | Medical Lab Technician | Healthcare | $62,700 | $47,700 | $81,500 |
| 90 | HVAC Technician | Skilled Trades | $62,700 | $47,700 | $81,500 |
| 91 | Graphic Designer | Creative & Media | $61,800 | $46,900 | $80,300 |
| 92 | Social Worker | Public Service | $61,500 | $46,800 | $80,000 |
| 93 | Carpenter | Skilled Trades | $60,600 | $46,100 | $78,800 |
| 94 | Content Writer / Copywriter | Creative & Media | $57,800 | $43,900 | $75,100 |
| 95 | Welder | Skilled Trades | $54,300 | $41,300 | $70,700 |
| 96 | Auto Mechanic | Skilled Trades | $54,300 | $41,300 | $70,700 |
| 97 | Photographer | Creative & Media | $47,800 | $36,300 | $62,100 |
| 98 | Administrative Assistant | Administrative | $46,700 | $35,500 | $60,700 |
| 99 | Medical Assistant | Healthcare | $46,000 | $35,000 | $59,800 |
| 100 | Customer Service Rep | Administrative | $40,600 | $30,900 | $52,800 |
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