Best Community Colleges in Tennessee

Why Attend Community College in Tennessee?

Tennessee is one of the best states in which to find affordable community college options. The Volunteer State has many impressive institutions available to prospective students, such as South College in Knoxville, Dyersburg State Community College, and Lakeland Community College. Also, there is a wealth of discounts that come with attendance. Since Tennessee's economy is booming, with almost 3 million people in the labor force, graduates can feel secure in knowing that they will have a plethora of options available to them upon graduation.

What Career Pathways Are Available in Tennessee?

Tennessee has an impressive 760 unique job types on offer, making it the 11th most of any state and 5.3% more than the national median of 722. Although to some that number may seem small in comparison to the population size, consider that the state makes up 2.12% of the nation’s labor market. As such, not only is the state well-endowed with employment opportunities, but the median salary in Tennessee is near the national median as well, making it a potentially lucrative choice for those looking for work.

Tennessee should also be attractive to those searching for professional positions, as it sprawls across the 15th spot for job quantity - having nearly 3 million people employed in the Volunteer State. That’s about a million more jobs than Oregon (which is the median state in this case), and 63.6% higher than the national median. Furthermore, the salary is quite competitive (despite ranking below the national median) in the 42nd slot, with a median annual salary of $37,700.

What Are The Most Common Jobs in Tennessee?

Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks, janitors and cleaners (except maids and housekeeping cleaners) and secretaries and administrative assistants (except legal, medical, and executive) are the jobs you'll find in the highest demand in Tennessee.

Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks

In the Volunteer State, you’ll find a total of 41,800 bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks, making it the 10th most of any state. California has the most with around 170,000 such positions, leaving a difference of -128,780 (-75%) when compared to Tennessee. Salaries are fairly typical in Tennessee, where such a professional earns a median salary of $38,040, just lower than the national median of $38,070 (but better can be found in some states with much lower costs of living).

Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners

In the nation, there are approximately 2,036,720 janitors and cleaners, 1.85% of which call Tennessee home. That comes out to be exactly 37,780 positions - making it one of the top most common occupations in Tennessee. While the total positions in the state is quite high, the pay is far from stellar and ranks in the 44th position when compared to other states. With a median of just $24,360, it’s worse than 86% of states in terms of pay for this position.

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Tennessee also has 37,330 secretaries and administrative assistants. It’s slightly better than the national median, as the median salary for such a position in Tennessee is $36,900 - ranking it in 37th position and 28% better than the median state (North Carolina). Unfortunately, the maximum potential compensation bump you can encounter in the state is only 38%, which is lower than the national median of 40%. Still, it’s a solid option for those looking to break into the admin, so long as you are flexible on location.