Hey there tech pro! Looking to level up your career in one of America‘s newest tech hot spots? With an exploding startup scene, growing tech titans, and access to world-class talent, Tennessee holds incredible opportunities across high-paying engineering, programming, cybersecurity, and cloud computing jobs.
Let‘s explore the driving forces behind Tennessee‘s transformation into a national technology powerhouse and overview the state‘s top paying tech roles fueling this new-age Gold Rush.
Tennessee‘s Tech Takeoff
Over the past decade, Tennessee has emerged as a magnet for technology investment and talent growth. In any given month Nashville alone hosts over 75 tech meetup groups with thousands of attendees, reflecting the sector‘s vibrant expansion (1). New incubators like the Nashville Entrepreneur Center support over 290 startups annually, while programs such as Launch Tennessee have deployed over $40 million into local seed funds and early ventures since 2012.
This supporting infrastructure coupled with competitive incentives has attracted major tech players. For instance, Amazon recently announced its Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville bringing over 5,000 technical jobs while paying no corporate income taxes for 7 years. Financial services powerhouse AllianceBernstein is also building a $70 million facility expected to employ 1,050 workers by 2023.
This influx of companies is fueling tech occupation growth. For example, Tennessee‘s application developer job expansion rate hit 19% last year compared to the overall U.S. rate of 15% (2). Salaries are rising in parallel as skilled talent remains scarce. Clearly, Tennessee provides a lucrative landscape for tech professionals spanning numerous specializations. Now let‘s check out the state‘s highest paying tech jobs!
Equipped with an overview of Tennessee‘s top tech jobs and salary ranges, you may be asking yourself: how can I get qualified for these lucrative roles?
Luckily, Tennessee offers top-tier educational programs, accelerated bootcamps, and networking circles tailored to launching tech careers regardless of your current experience level.
Academic Feeders
For those able to pursue a bachelor’s or advanced degree full-time, Tennessee‘s respected universities will equip you with relevant technical knowledge plus credentials that impress recruiters.
| University | Key Tech Programs | Application Deadlines | Tuition per Year | International Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN |
Computer Science, Electrical/Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity |
January 2 | $55K (undergrad) $44K (graduate) |
Yes |
| University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN |
Computer Science, Information Sciences, Data Science & Engineering |
Rolling | $13K (in-state) $33K (out-of-state) |
Yes |
| [Lipscomb University, Nashville TN](https://www.lipscomb.edu/ computing) |
Computing (BS) Information Security (MS) |
August 1 | $37K | Yes |
I recommend researching 2-4 schools’ application timelines/criteria and on-campus technical communities to find your best fit!
Accelerated Bootcamps
For working professionals and career changers needing a faster path to restart in tech, Tennessee coding bootcamps compress essential training into 3-6 months. They prepare you for specialized certifications and jobs without four-year commitments.
Top options like Nashville Software School ($11K tuition) and Tech Elevator ($15K) guarantee job placement upon completion with median starting salaries between $65K-$75K. Check their student outcomes reporting when evaluating quality.
Networking & Community
Finally, plugging into Tennessee’s rich professional networks will help you gain insider intel on open tech jobs, industry trends, skill demands, and company cultures.
Security aficionados should check out the local OWASP chapter OWASP Nashville. Quality and testing enthusiasts can join the 1000+ member community Nashville QA for events like Testing Nights and Test Talk Tuesdays. Opportunities exist for every tech interest and career stage if you know where to look!
Rising startups, major corporate expansions, strong universities, and welcoming communities have primed Tennessee for outstanding tech job growth and salaries over the coming decade. I hope this guide provided some ideas to advance your skills and navigate the state’s abundant openings in fields like cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, and engineering management.
With a balanced lifestyle, low cost of living, tax advantages and wealth of training resources, Tennessee checks all the boxes. Now could be the perfect time make your move! Let me know if you have any other questions in your tech career journey and best of luck!
