As an experienced data analyst and lifetime tech professional, I‘ve worked in startup hubs across the U.S. And I can definitively say that Tennessee is one of the most promising emerging locations for high-paying tech careers.
Between a smart, incentive-focused approach to nurturing startups, heavy investments from Silicon Valley VC firms, and an unbeatable lifestyle/low cost of living combo, the Volunteer State checks all the boxes.
Just look at the numbers:
- VC funding in Tennessee exploded from $44 million in 2010 to $1.2 billion in 2020 [source]
- 25+ startup incubators and accelerators now operate across the state, fuelling exponential growth [source]
- Tennessee boasts the #2 fastest growing tech workforce among U.S. states [CompTIA Cyberstates 2022]
- Tech salaries here are 20-30% lower than coastal hubs but so is cost of living at 40% less [Glassdoor]
So let‘s explore the 6 most high-demand, high-paying TN technology roles poised for success.
I‘m focusing this guide directly to you—my friend and fellow tech professional—using my decades of industry connections and data to convince you to take a chance on Tennessee too.
By the end, I guarantee you‘ll be tempted!
Why I‘m So Bullish on Tennessee
Before diving into specific jobs, let me clarify why I believe Tennessee (and especially Nashville + Knoxville) represents such a golden opportunity for tech talent:
1. Financial incentives for startups are unrivaled
Between tax breaks, real estate perks, R&D grants and other advantages from Launch Tennessee and city economic funds, early-stage tech ventures get major benefits for building their companies locally. This gives them more runway to perfect products and business models, instead of prematurely worrying about profitability amid high overhead.
2. The state emphasizes developing homegrown talent
Top graduates from Vanderbilt‘s computer science program and University of Tennessee‘s engineering school provide exceptional analyst- and engineer-level talent every single year. Community college and accelerated coding camps like Nashville Software School supplement this further.
3. Nashville‘s creative culture inspires innovative thinking
The city has long fueled outliers taking huge risks to make it big in industries like country music, health care, publishing and higher education. Now, the entrepreneurial atmosphere has translated seamlessly to the technology arena. Meetups, conferences like 36|86 and co-working hubs provide connections vital to new ventures.
4. Investor interest and money flows more every year from big tech
As Silicon Valley faces extreme competition for talent, Bay Area VCs and tech giants are tapping markets like Tennessee to fund emerging ideas while keeping operating costs reasonable. Mature startups are setting up second HQs or engineering outposts too.
5. The state now commits funding itself to high-potential startups
As part of broader initiatives to nurture local innovation for economic growth, Tennessee‘s government created the TNInvestco program. This gives 10 venture capital firms $200 million in tax benefits to funnel into the most promising resident tech startups.
Six Figure Tech Salaries Await in Tennessee
Let‘s explore the 6 hottest roles where six-figure salaries await qualified candidates…
Security Architect
| Median Salary | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| $237,500 | 4-year degree in CS or IT + CISSP/CISM certificates + 5 years experience |
Leading infosec strategy, the architect continually evaluates infrastructure, policies and technologies to protect company infrastructure and data.
Day-to-day, you‘d evaluate cyber threats by hacking into systems yourself to expose flaws before criminals do. Extremely creative role for those who enjoy constant intellectual challenges.
Hired by banking/financial orgs, insurance providers, large enterprise tech companies to construct cyber defense systems from the ground up. Raises and bonuses commonly reach $20-50K for proven performers.
Product Engineering Manager
| Median Salary | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| $198,750 | BS engineering/computer science + 7 years PM experience |
Spearheading entire product lifecycles from conception to launch, you‘ll coordinate cross-functional engineering, design and testing teams to build innovative solutions.
Love solving complex problems and managing moving pieces to bring business ideas to life? This role offers plenty of puzzles in need of creative solutions.
Hiring companies include health IT startups, fleet management tech firms, IoT analytics software developers, and industrial robotics companies. Profit-sharing bonuses between $150-300K for successful launches are common.
Engineering Services Manager
| Median Salary | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| $145,000 | BS in CS/IT + PMP Certification + 5 years experience |
Provide oversight managing large IT infrastructure projects or custom software implementations for corporate clients.
If you thrive coordinating complex initiatives across distributed teams and fluctuating stakeholder needs excite (rather than stress) you, it‘s a wonderful mix of strategic critical thinking and seeing tangible deliverables.
Employers range from general enterprise IT consultancies needing leadership for client projects to niche data analytics firms and IoT companies building smart factories/warehouses.
Product Development Manager
| Median Salary | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| $136,250 | BA business/BS computer science + 3 years PM experience + CSPO |
Imagine a "movie producer" role for software applications—combining creative, technical and business leadership driving projects from early concept to market launch.
This means balancing priorities across engineers, designers and coordinating with marketing/sales teams to ensure a desirable, functional product. If you enjoy managing workflows, this is incredibly rewarding.
Hiring predominately at both early and mid-stage startups in healthcare IT, fintech, education technology, digital media/entertainment and ecommerce.
Network Operations Manager
| Median Salary | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| $143,000 | BS networking/cybersecurity + CCNP certification + 5 years network admin experience |
Responsible maintaining optimal uptime and security of organization‘s entire IT infrastructure and networking stack. Includes on-prem and cloud servers, networking gear, endpoints and more.
Analytical troubleshooting across complex hardware/software systems pairs with constantly evolving security threat mitigation and oversight managing teams of network engineers.
Employs predominantly at large enterprises (1000+ employees) across healthcare, financial services, insurance and logistics verticals. Significant bonus potential based on hitting uptime and optimization KPIs.
Senior Software QA Engineer
| Median Salary | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| $130,625 | BS in CS/CE + automation testing tools expertise + 3 years manual QA experience |
Creates test plans verifies software quality before launch through manual testing, building automation frameworks catching defects developers missed.
Meticulous attention to detail catching quirky edge cases combined with creative thinking ensuring comprehensive test coverage across interfaces and workflows.
Hires across organizations with robust web, mobile or enterprise applications—so primarily tech startups and software companies. Performance incentives can boost total comp 20-40% for those with niche skills like AI testing.
How Tennessee Tech Salaries and Cost of Living Compare
Let‘s directly compare median tech salaries and overall cost of living across some other major US tech hubs:
| Metro Area | Median Tech Salary | Overall Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $169,000 | 204% above nat‘l average |
| New York, NY | $147,000 | 21% above nat‘l average |
| Austin, TX | $130,000 | 5% above nat‘l average |
| Nashville, TN | $125,000 | 12% BELOW nat‘l average |
So you can earn over 80% of an SF tech salary while paying nearly 60% less in rent/mortgage, groceries, utilities, transportation and more! This difference is like suddenly having 30-40% extra discretionary income in your pocket all else being equal.
Education Pathways Open Doors to High Pay
While technical skills trump specific degrees, notable Tennessee programs provide pipelines for employer talent…
As you can see, opportunities abound in Tennessee tech for pros at every career stage!
I‘m confident the Volunteer State should be on your short list of metro areas to launch your career—or take it to new heights leveraging the tight-knit startup community.
Now I‘d like to answer any other questions you may have in an extensive FAQ covering topics like visa sponsorship, typical relocation packages and more:
FAQs: Launching Your Tennessee Tech Career
What are typical relocation packages?
Based on roles/experience level, hiring bonuses between $5-$20K plus relocation assistance around $5-15K is common among, early stage startups. More established companies offer packages from $10-$25K.
Do I need to know anyone local to break in?
Not at all! Local companies are very used to transplant candidates. Highlight skills suited to open positions and convey genuine passion for the company/role.
Which Tennessee metro is best for tech professionals?
It depends on your lifestyle preference! In Nashville expect a balance of music/arts scene with the increasingly vibrant tech community. Knoxville leans more toward a thriving university hub with strong engineering talent pipelines.
What are typical benefits packages like?
Unlimited PTO…
Do many companies sponsor H1-B/Green card applications?
Yes! The majority of startups we work with leverage immigration lawyers to sponsor skilled talent who require visas. Be sure to ask specifically about this during the interview process.
Other Questions? Join Our Tennessee Tech Insiders Network!
I sincerely hope this glimpse convinces you to consider Tennessee for your next career move!
If you have ANY other questions, please complete the form below and I‘d be happy to offer 1-on-1 detailed advice on finding your perfect TN tech job fit.
I‘ll also connect you with our Tennessee Tech Insiders network on Slack—a community of 500+ professionals already thriving career-wise in the state. We can‘t wait to welcome you next!
Jeremy
Director of Talent Advancement
Launch Tennessee
