Most common jobs in Memphis

Written by:
July 11, 2021
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Most common jobs in Memphis

The 10 largest occupations in America employ 30.5 million workers, representing 21% of all workers. Keeping America's economy moving would be impossible without office workers, package handlers, food prep workers, and truck drivers. And what would the sick do without the millions of hospital workers, nurses, and home health aides?

Stacker compiled a list of the most common jobs in Memphis using data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by total employment as of May 2020. While much has changed during the coronavirus pandemic, the jobs featured here give a holistic view at the most popular industries in your area and how many jobs are supported.

Keep reading to see which jobs in Memphis are the most common.

#50. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 1,730 (2.842 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $45,570 (#290 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 362,090 (2.603 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($69,410)
--- Pine Bluff, AR ($68,850)
--- Portsmouth, NH-ME ($66,920)
- Job description: Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.

#49. Correctional officers and jailers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 1,760 (2.888 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,050 (#89 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 405,870 (2.918 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bakersfield, CA ($85,850)
--- Stockton-Lodi, CA ($84,790)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($83,050)
- Job description: Guard inmates in penal or rehabilitative institutions in accordance with established regulations and procedures. May guard prisoners in transit between jail, courtroom, prison, or other point. Includes deputy sheriffs and police who spend the majority of their time guarding prisoners in correctional institutions.

#48. Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 1,790 (2.948 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,250 (#185 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 344,020 (2.473 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $53,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($91,840)
--- Napa, CA ($82,650)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($76,440)
- Job description: Install or repair heating, central air conditioning, HVAC, or refrigeration systems, including oil burners, hot-air furnaces, and heating stoves.

#46 (tie). Dining room and cafeteria attendants and bartender helpers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 1,970 (3.239 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,340 (#117 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 374,940 (2.695 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,300
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($42,670)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($40,390)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($37,720)
- Job description: Facilitate food service. Clean tables; remove dirty dishes; replace soiled table linens; set tables; replenish supply of clean linens, silverware, glassware, and dishes; supply service bar with food; and serve items such as water, condiments, and coffee to patrons.

#46 (tie). Health specialties teachers, postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 1,970 (3.242 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $101,290 (#48 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 200,040 (1.438 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $124,890
- Entry level education requirements: Doctoral or professional degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($211,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($195,830)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($176,930)
- Job description: Teach courses in health specialties, in fields such as dentistry, laboratory technology, medicine, pharmacy, public health, therapy, and veterinary medicine.

#45. Packaging and filling machine operators and tenders

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,030 (3.342 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,080 (#201 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 370,910 (2.667 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,220
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Beckley, WV ($52,340)
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($52,240)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($49,120)
- Job description: Operate or tend machines to prepare industrial or consumer products for storage or shipment. Includes cannery workers who pack food products.

#44. Passenger vehicle drivers, except bus drivers, transit and intercity

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,050 (3.376 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,550 (#322 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,980 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,360
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($46,580)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($45,780)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($44,940)
- Job description: Drive a motor vehicle to transport passengers on a planned or scheduled basis. May collect a fare.

#43. Tellers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,060 (3.389 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,420 (#226 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 423,570 (3.045 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,600)
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($38,770)
--- Redding, CA ($38,530)
- Job description: Receive and pay out money. Keep records of money and negotiable instruments involved in a financial institution's various transactions.

#42. Machinists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,220 (3.653 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,990 (#89 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 360,340 (2.59 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($68,950)
--- Anchorage, AK ($64,610)
--- Farmington, NM ($64,190)
- Job description: Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments out of metal. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

#41. Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,310 (3.807 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $84,990 (#274 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,476,800 (10.617 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $114,270
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($157,480)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($144,740)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($140,930)
- Job description: Research, design, and develop computer and network software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user needs and develop software solutions, applying principles and techniques of computer science, engineering, and mathematical analysis. Update software or enhance existing software capabilities. May work with computer hardware engineers to integrate hardware and software systems, and develop specifications and performance requirements. May maintain databases within an application area, working individually or coordinating database development as part of a team.

#40. Pharmacy technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,440 (4.009 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,660 (#122 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 415,310 (2.986 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,450
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,620)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($56,020)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,810)
- Job description: Prepare medications under the direction of a pharmacist. May measure, mix, count out, label, and record amounts and dosages of medications according to prescription orders.

#39. Electricians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,460 (4.041 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,770 (#238 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 656,510 (4.72 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,680)
--- Trenton, NJ ($90,210)
--- Kankakee, IL ($88,530)
- Job description: Install, maintain, and repair electrical wiring, equipment, and fixtures. Ensure that work is in accordance with relevant codes. May install or service street lights, intercom systems, or electrical control systems.

#38. Human resources specialists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,510 (4.120 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $59,800 (#237 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 647,810 (4.657 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $69,430
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($96,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($93,680)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($90,130)
- Job description: Recruit, screen, interview, or place individuals within an organization. May perform other activities in multiple human resources areas.

#37. Inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,590 (4.254 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,860 (#310 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 549,200 (3.948 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($85,040)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($80,520)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($67,990)
- Job description: Inspect, test, sort, sample, or weigh nonagricultural raw materials or processed, machined, fabricated, or assembled parts or products for defects, wear, and deviations from specifications. May use precision measuring instruments and complex test equipment.

#36. Accountants and auditors

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,740 (4.511 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $71,800 (#191 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,274,620 (9.163 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $81,660
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($111,680)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($105,720)
--- Midland, TX ($103,120)
- Job description: Examine, analyze, and interpret accounting records to prepare financial statements, give advice, or audit and evaluate statements prepared by others. Install or advise on systems of recording costs or other financial and budgetary data.

#35. Financial managers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,750 (4.529 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $117,090 (#233 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 653,080 (4.695 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $151,510
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($214,670)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($210,180)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($192,310)
- Job description: Plan, direct, or coordinate accounting, investing, banking, insurance, securities, and other financial activities of a branch, office, or department of an establishment.

#34. Automotive service technicians and mechanics

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,790 (4.585 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $54,050 (#23 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 620,110 (4.458 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $46,760
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($66,060)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($64,630)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($64,420)
- Job description: Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul automotive vehicles.

#33. Medical secretaries and administrative assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,910 (4.791 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,440 (#233 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 597,100 (4.293 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($55,220)
--- Salinas, CA ($53,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,020)
- Job description: Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondence.

#32. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, technical and scientific products

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,920 (4.806 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $89,040 (#135 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 288,150 (2.072 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $99,680
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rochester, NY ($150,650)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,850)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($141,310)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers where technical or scientific knowledge is required in such areas as biology, engineering, chemistry, and electronics, normally obtained from at least 2 years of postsecondary education.

#31. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 2,990 (4.922 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $61,080 (#284 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,900 (4.313 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $66,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($101,930)
--- Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX ($100,590)
--- Longview, WA ($99,590)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of production and operating workers, such as inspectors, precision workers, machine setters and operators, assemblers, fabricators, and plant and system operators. Excludes team or work leaders.

#30. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,130 (5.154 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,580 (#141 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,278,670 (9.192 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $73,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Danbury, CT ($112,810)
--- Napa, CA ($101,850)
--- Santa Fe, NM ($93,680)
- Job description: Sell goods for wholesalers or manufacturers to businesses or groups of individuals. Work requires substantial knowledge of items sold.

#29. Medical assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,160 (5.203 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,260 (#166 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 710,200 (5.106 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($53,960)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($53,660)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($52,520)
- Job description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

#28. Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,220 (5.301 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,840 (#302 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 872,370 (6.272 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,800
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($46,990)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,160)
--- New Haven, CT ($43,820)
- Job description: Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.

#27. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,240 (5.320 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $60,430 (#198 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 977,070 (7.024 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,490
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($115,620)
--- Lawrence, KS ($97,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($94,870)
- Job description: Sell services to individuals or businesses. May describe options or resolve client problems.

#26. Receptionists and information clerks

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,290 (5.404 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,070 (#201 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 968,420 (6.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $32,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($43,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,160)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($41,840)
- Job description: Answer inquiries and provide information to the general public, customers, visitors, and other interested parties regarding activities conducted at establishment and location of departments, offices, and employees within the organization.

#25. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,470 (5.712 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $51,920 (#271 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 654,900 (4.708 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $70,000
- Entry level education requirements: nan
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($131,090)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($122,570)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($115,690)
- Job description: Maintain order and protect life and property by enforcing local, tribal, state, or federal laws and ordinances. Perform a combination of the following duties: patrol a specific area; direct traffic; issue traffic summonses; investigate accidents; apprehend and arrest suspects, or serve legal processes of courts. Includes police officers working at educational institutions.

#24. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,560 (5.861 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,650 (#276 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 676,440 (4.863 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $50,090
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($75,950)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($74,820)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($74,520)
- Job description: Care for ill, injured, or convalescing patients or persons with disabilities in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, private homes, group homes, and similar institutions. May work under the supervision of a registered nurse. Licensing required.

#23. Maids and housekeeping cleaners

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 3,750 (6.158 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $23,680 (#254 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 795,590 (5.72 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $28,010
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,640)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($41,370)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($40,490)
- Job description: Perform any combination of light cleaning duties to maintain private households or commercial establishments, such as hotels and hospitals, in a clean and orderly manner. Duties may include making beds, replenishing linens, cleaning rooms and halls, and vacuuming.

#22. First-line supervisors of food preparation and serving workers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 4,200 (6.914 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $36,610 (#184 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 891,540 (6.409 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,880
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($59,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($53,350)
--- Napa, CA ($53,230)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in preparing and serving food.

#21. Cooks, restaurant

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 4,290 (7.062 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,920 (#272 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,109,650 (7.977 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,530
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($45,200)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($39,950)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($39,450)
- Job description: Prepare, season, and cook dishes such as soups, meats, vegetables, or desserts in restaurants. May order supplies, keep records and accounts, price items on menu, or plan menu.

#20. Packers and packagers, hand

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 4,360 (7.175 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,230 (#233 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 599,270 (4.308 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $29,270
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Rome, GA ($39,770)
--- Longview, WA ($39,680)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($36,820)
- Job description: Pack or package by hand a wide variety of products and materials.

#19. Teaching assistants, except postsecondary

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 4,540 (7.459 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,390 (#270 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,272,840 (9.151 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,630
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($42,110)
--- New Bedford, MA ($41,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($41,160)
- Job description: Assist a preschool, elementary, middle, or secondary school teacher with instructional duties. Serve in a position for which a teacher has primary responsibility for the design and implementation of educational programs and services.

#18. Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 4,590 (7.546 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $56,100 (#216 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 991,000 (7.124 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $67,340
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Napa, CA ($99,170)
--- Fresno, CA ($96,200)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($95,500)
- Job description: Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

#17. Cooks, fast food

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 4,710 (7.749 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $20,000 (#258 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 544,420 (3.914 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $24,300
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Cedar Rapids, IA ($34,790)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($33,580)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($33,570)
- Job description: Prepare and cook food in a fast food restaurant with a limited menu. Duties of these cooks are limited to preparation of a few basic items and normally involve operating large-volume single-purpose cooking equipment.

#16. First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 5,350 (8.800 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,870 (#120 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,063,110 (7.643 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($62,180)
--- Yakima, WA ($61,710)
--- Sheboygan, WI ($61,610)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate activities of retail sales workers in an establishment or department. Duties may include management functions, such as purchasing, budgeting, accounting, and personnel work, in addition to supervisory duties.

#15. Industrial truck and tractor operators

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 6,170 (10.146 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $35,010 (#291 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 640,950 (4.608 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $39,210
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($58,230)
--- Hinesville, GA ($56,220)
--- Battle Creek, MI ($52,400)
- Job description: Operate industrial trucks or tractors equipped to move materials around a warehouse, storage yard, factory, construction site, or similar location.

#14. Elementary school teachers, except special education

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 6,210 (10.213 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $52,650 (#243 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,364,870 (9.812 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $65,420
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Merced, CA ($99,360)
--- Kingston, NY ($93,780)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($92,910)
- Job description: Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.

#13. Food preparation workers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 6,360 (10.463 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $21,300 (#352 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 793,590 (5.705 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $26,820
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($37,330)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($36,120)
--- Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA ($35,860)
- Job description: Perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as preparing cold foods and shellfish, slicing meat, and brewing coffee or tea.

#12. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 6,420 (10.557 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,110 (#89 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,443,940 (10.381 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $44,100
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($56,700)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($55,720)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($55,720)
- Job description: Compute, classify, and record numerical data to keep financial records complete. Perform any combination of routine calculating, posting, and verifying duties to obtain primary financial data for use in maintaining accounting records. May also check the accuracy of figures, calculations, and postings pertaining to business transactions recorded by other workers.

#11. Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 6,990 (11.492 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,010 (#174 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,850,360 (13.302 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $40,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($56,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($52,480)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($51,930)
- Job description: Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.

#10. Shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 7,070 (11.624 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,710 (#316 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 727,640 (5.231 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,210
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fairbanks, AK ($52,310)
--- California-Lexington Park, MD ($50,180)
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($49,530)
- Job description: Verify and maintain records on incoming and outgoing shipments involving inventory. Duties include verifying and recording incoming merchandise or material and arranging for the transportation of products. May prepare items for shipment.

#9. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 7,170 (11.789 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $57,490 (#172 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,427,260 (10.261 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $62,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($78,770)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($77,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($75,820)
- Job description: Directly supervise and coordinate the activities of clerical and administrative support workers.

#8. Janitors and cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 9,200 (15.129 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,860 (#307 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,990,510 (14.31 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,410
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($44,110)
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($43,860)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($42,250)
- Job description: Keep buildings in clean and orderly condition. Perform heavy cleaning duties, such as cleaning floors, shampooing rugs, washing walls and glass, and removing rubbish. Duties may include tending furnace and boiler, performing routine maintenance activities, notifying management of need for repairs, and cleaning snow or debris from sidewalk.

#7. Office clerks, general

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 11,330 (18.627 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $34,610 (#238 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,788,090 (20.044 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,560)
--- Napa, CA ($47,570)
--- Boulder, CO ($47,160)
- Job description: Perform duties too varied and diverse to be classified in any specific office clerical occupation, requiring knowledge of office systems and procedures. Clerical duties may be assigned in accordance with the office procedures of individual establishments and may include a combination of answering telephones, bookkeeping, typing or word processing, office machine operation, and filing.

#6. Customer service representatives

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 12,230 (20.116 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $37,580 (#125 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,833,250 (20.368 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $38,510
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($49,930)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($47,720)
--- Midland, MI ($47,250)
- Job description: Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints. Excludes individuals whose duties are primarily installation, sales, repair, and technical support.

#5. Registered nurses

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 14,000 (23.014 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $68,300 (#230 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,986,500 (21.47 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $80,010
- Entry level education requirements: Bachelor’s degree
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($149,200)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($146,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($142,140)
- Job description: Assess patient health problems and needs, develop and implement nursing care plans, and maintain medical records. Administer nursing care to ill, injured, convalescent, or disabled patients. May advise patients on health maintenance and disease prevention or provide case management. Licensing or registration required.

#4. Stockers and order fillers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 14,400 (23.675 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $30,850 (#134 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,210,960 (15.895 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Odessa, TX ($39,130)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($39,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($38,580)
- Job description: Receive, store, and issue merchandise, materials, equipment, and other items from stockroom, warehouse, or storage yard to fill shelves, racks, tables, or customers' orders. May operate power equipment to fill orders. May mark prices on merchandise and set up sales displays.

#3. Cashiers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 14,500 (23.836 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $22,460 (#307 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 3,333,100 (23.962 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $25,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($35,970)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($34,480)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($34,320)
- Job description: Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.

#2. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 15,270 (25.108 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $47,700 (#181 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 1,797,710 (12.924 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $48,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Barnstable Town, MA ($65,170)
--- Danville, IL ($63,230)
--- Lewiston, ID-WA ($62,250)
- Job description: Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

#1. Laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Employment: 36,540 (60.089 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $31,420 (#238 highest pay among all metros)

National
- Employment: 2,805,200 (20.167 per 1,000 jobs)
- Annual mean salary: $33,710
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($42,690)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($41,900)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($41,820)
- Job description: Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor. Includes all manual laborers not elsewhere classified.

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