Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Memphis

Written by:
February 17, 2021
Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

Highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Memphis

Anybody who has taken a course in marketing, psychology or sociology is likely familiar with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. First detailed by psychologist Andrew Maslow in his 1943 work “A Theory of Human Motivation,” the hierarchy breaks down the complex network of human thoughts into a categorical triage, placing self-development at the top and security and physical health at the bottom. In setting up this pyramid, Maslow framed self-recognition and creative development as ultimate goals, while also prioritizing personal safety and strong physical health.

As such, it has never been more important to recognize the health care professionals who work tirelessly to keep the population healthy. In 2019, the United States spent 17.7% of its GDP on health. While it’s encouraging to know that the country is investing in those responsible for maintaining the nation’s well-being, not all health care professionals receive equal compensation.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest and lowest paying health care jobs in Memphis, TN-MS-AR using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage. Keep reading to see which health care jobs make the most and least in your city.

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#47. Orderlies

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $23,130
- #118 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,710
- Employment: 46,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($51,240)
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($49,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($44,730)
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#46. Dietetic technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $24,500
- #106 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $31,180
- Employment: 29,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN ($52,880)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($45,910)
--- Salinas, CA ($44,730)
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Pixabay

#45. Psychiatric aides

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $25,110
- #62 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $32,590
- Employment: 55,020
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($48,280)
--- Rochester, NY ($45,890)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($45,010)
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#44. Physical therapist aides

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $25,980
- #126 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,180
- Employment: 49,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Savannah, GA ($50,470)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($44,720)
--- Boulder, CO ($41,450)
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#43. Pharmacy aides

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $26,740
- #98 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,490
- Employment: 37,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($46,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($46,430)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($42,620)
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#42. Veterinary assistants and laboratory animal caretakers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $27,390
- #159 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $29,690
- Employment: 97,030
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($48,240)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($43,890)
--- Port St. Lucie, FL ($43,200)
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Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#41. Psychiatric technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $27,460
- #113 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,550
- Employment: 78,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($72,990)
--- Fresno, CA ($66,710)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($66,290)
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GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#40. Nursing assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $28,030
- #251 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,280

National
- Annual mean salary: $30,720
- Employment: 1,419,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($46,170)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($45,100)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($44,710)
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Maria Sbytova // Shutterstock

#39. Veterinary technologists and technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $28,150
- #280 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,670
- Employment: 110,650
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($76,660)
--- Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA ($57,740)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($50,100)
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Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#38. Phlebotomists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $31,770
- #231 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 620

National
- Annual mean salary: $36,480
- Employment: 128,290
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($58,610)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($54,040)
--- Redding, CA ($52,310)
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#37. Ophthalmic medical technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $32,140
- #183 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 58,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Duluth, MN-WI ($56,620)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($53,770)
--- New Bedford, MA ($53,250)
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Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#36. Medical assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $34,170
- #166 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,630

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,720
- Employment: 712,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($49,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($48,920)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($47,140)
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#35. Medical equipment preparers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $35,100
- #105 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,530
- Employment: 56,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($63,400)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($61,080)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($60,670)
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Rido // Shutterstock

#34. Opticians, dispensing

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $35,530
- #170 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Utica-Rome, NY ($70,730)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($68,970)
--- New Haven, CT ($66,020)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#33. Medical transcriptionists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $35,710
- #109 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,210
- Employment: 55,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($67,840)
--- Amarillo, TX ($56,970)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($54,080)
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Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#32. Dental assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $37,110
- #263 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,340

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,170
- Employment: 351,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($56,010)
--- Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI ($54,510)
--- Rochester, MN ($53,010)
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Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#31. Pharmacy technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $39,920
- #48 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,350

National
- Annual mean salary: $35,250
- Employment: 417,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($51,090)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($50,790)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($50,070)
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DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#30. Athletic trainers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $43,780
- #134 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,540
- Employment: 28,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($73,250)
--- Lansing-East Lansing, MI ($66,390)
--- Trenton, NJ ($65,320)
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Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#29. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $44,280
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,170

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,500
- Employment: 697,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($69,490)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($68,160)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($67,990)
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Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#28. Surgical technologists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $45,800
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,110
- Employment: 109,000
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($74,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($72,790)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($69,750)
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Halfpoint // Shutterstock

#27. Cardiovascular technologists and technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $47,870
- #143 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,600
- Employment: 56,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salem, OR ($106,620)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($103,050)
--- Medford, OR ($82,780)
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#26. Recreational therapists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $50,270
- #46 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,130
- Employment: 19,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande, CA ($83,590)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,800)
--- Fresno, CA ($82,170)
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Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#25. Respiratory therapists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $52,090
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,950
- Employment: 132,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($101,520)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($98,810)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,950)
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#24. Physical therapist assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $54,180
- #220 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,520
- Employment: 96,840
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($78,530)
--- Victoria, TX ($78,070)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($75,470)
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lenetstan // Shutterstock

#23. Radiologic technologists and technicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $57,250
- #186 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 780

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,120
- Employment: 207,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($109,680)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,670)
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#22. Occupational therapy assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $57,350
- #132 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $61,880
- Employment: 44,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($92,580)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($83,690)
--- Reno, NV ($81,800)
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#21. Magnetic resonance imaging technologists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $58,030
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 280

National
- Annual mean salary: $74,270
- Employment: 37,900
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($124,950)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($104,870)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($99,920)
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#20. Dietitians and nutritionists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $60,690
- #122 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,330
- Employment: 67,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($88,350)
--- Salinas, CA ($87,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,890)
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#19. Orthotists and prosthetists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $62,740
- #51 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,810
- Employment: 9,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($129,500)
--- Jackson, MS ($122,740)
--- Springfield, MA-CT ($103,700)
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Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#18. Registered nurses

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $66,730
- #219 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,460
- Employment: 2,982,280
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($140,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($138,000)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($134,000)
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#17. Dental hygienists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $67,060
- #241 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 750

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- Employment: 221,560
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($140,150)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($120,420)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,940)
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SofikoS // Shutterstock

#16. Diagnostic medical sonographers

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $69,070
- #145 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $75,780
- Employment: 72,790
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($126,850)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,880)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($115,280)
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#15. Nuclear medicine technologists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $71,640
- #75 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $80,240
- Employment: 18,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($127,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($124,660)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($119,340)
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KSai23 // Shutterstock

#14. Chiropractors

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $73,800
- #92 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $85,010
- Employment: 35,010
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($160,330)
--- Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ($149,580)
--- Reno, NV ($140,260)
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#13. Radiation therapists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $74,670
- #72 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $91,620
- Employment: 17,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,300)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($126,260)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($124,720)
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#12. Speech-language pathologists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $79,730
- #148 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,000
- Employment: 154,360
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($117,710)
--- Corvallis, OR ($105,380)
--- Chico, CA ($104,640)
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ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#11. Occupational therapists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $84,860
- #160 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,210
- Employment: 133,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- The Villages, FL ($115,090)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($108,870)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($107,450)
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Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#10. Physical therapists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $89,770
- #157 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 850

National
- Annual mean salary: $90,170
- Employment: 233,350
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Yuba City, CA ($116,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($116,120)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($113,950)
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Austin Community College // Flickr

#9. Veterinarians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $93,950
- #180 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $104,820
- Employment: 74,540
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Sherman-Denison, TX ($210,960)
--- Lubbock, TX ($176,730)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($161,230)
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Kzenon // Shutterstock

#8. Optometrists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $101,920
- #138 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $122,980
- Employment: 39,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Champaign-Urbana, IL ($238,460)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($210,490)
--- Evansville, IN-KY ($183,380)
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Ohiodominican // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Physician assistants

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $102,540
- #231 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $112,410
- Employment: 120,090
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($161,370)
--- Leominster-Gardner, MA ($156,250)
--- Waterbury, CT ($154,550)
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Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#6. Nurse practitioners

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $104,680
- #231 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,400

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,840
- Employment: 200,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($175,060)
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($160,110)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($157,150)
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Grace Nichols // U.S. Air Force

#5. Pharmacists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $120,120
- #283 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,760

National
- Annual mean salary: $125,510
- Employment: 311,200
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tyler, TX ($161,790)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($158,250)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($157,850)
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#4. Nurse anesthetists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $164,720
- #78 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $181,040
- Employment: 43,570
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Toledo, OH ($266,260)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($254,860)
--- Columbus, GA-AL ($247,540)
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#3. Family medicine physicians

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $165,610
- #242 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,270
- Employment: 109,370
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Racine, WI ($286,030)
--- Jacksonville, NC ($282,580)
--- Gadsden, AL ($281,430)
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#2. Dentists, general

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $166,260
- #211 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $178,260
- Employment: 110,730
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Burlington, NC ($278,360)
--- Burlington-South Burlington, VT ($275,430)
--- Longview, TX ($272,440)
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LightField Studios // Shutterstock

#1. Psychiatrists

Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Annual mean salary: $193,900
- #77 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $220,430
- Employment: 25,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA ($282,400)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($280,270)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($280,200)

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