WORKFORCE: Job Zones and Education

Employment Growth, Skills and Knowledge, Job Zones, Career Pathways, Industrial Demand, Wages/Projections, Peer Postsecondary, TN Postsecondary, Cluster Awards, Implement

Job Zones are sourced from the Occupational Information Network, commonly known as O*NET, funded by the United States Department of Labor.

Job Zone 1 – High school diploma may not be required. Some of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate. Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.

Job Zone 2 – High school diploma and less than an Associates degree required. Could require a post-secondary credential or for example a commercial drivers license. These occupations usually require a high school diploma. Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Job Zone 3 – Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate’s degree. Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Job Zone 4– Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor’s degree, but some do not. Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Job Zone 5 – Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master’s degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree). Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Job Zone 2030 Projected Openings

There are 67,483 job openings currently projected for the Greater Memphis Area for 2030. The projection is derived from suppressed data, sourced from Jobs4TN and projecting from Bureau of Labor and Statistics data for projections suppressed by Jobs4TN. The Greater Memphis area is defined as Shelby, Fayette, Lauderdale and Tipton Counties.

Job Zone	2030	PERCENT	AVG WAGE
1	1	4,323	6.4	32,765
2	2	37,462	55.5	40,518
3	3	12,926	19.2	51,771
4	4	9,978	14.8	75,676
5	5	2,794	4.1	90,510

Job Zone 2022 Average Wages

Below are the average 2022 wages, by job zone, using data sourced from Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Job Zone	2030	PERCENT	2022 AVG WAGE
1	1	4,323	6.4	32,765
2	2	37,462	55.5	40,518
3	3	12,926	19.2	51,771
4	4	9,978	14.8	75,676
5	5	2,794	4.1	90,510

Below are featured occupations, with more than 25 projected openings that pay an average annual wage of more than $43K for Job Zone 2 and more than $50K for Job Zone 3

OCCUPATION	PATHWAY	JOB ZONE	AVG WAGE	2030 OPENINGS
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers	Architecture - Construction	2	70,290	29
2	Sales Representatives of Services	Marketing	2	64,840	378
3	Chemical Plant and System Operators	Manufacturing	2	62,930	26
4	Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers	Arts, Audio/Video Tech, COM	2	59,890	52
5	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers	Trans/Dist/Logistics	2	58,770	1,972
6	Postal Service Mail Carriers	Business Admin	2	56,130	119
7	Light Truck Drivers	Trans/Dist/Logistics	2	53,110	1,274
8	Automotive Body and Related Repairers	Trans/Dist/Logistics	2	53,060	66
9	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors	Business Admin	2	50,930	112
10	Aircraft Service Attendants	Trans/Dist/Logistics	2	50,520	39
11	Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks	Manufacturing	2	50,400	224
12	Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	Manufacturing	2	49,050	37
13	Construction Equipment Operators	Architecture - Construction	2	49,030	113
14	Millwrights	Architecture - Construction	2	48,030	27
15	Spraying Machine Setters, Operators,	Manufacturing	2	47,960	73
16	Correctional Officers and Jailers	Law, Public Safety	2	47,810	167
17	Carpenters	Architecture - Construction	2	46,840	142
18	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance	Trans/Dist/Logistics	2	46,230	110
19	Machine Tool Setters	Manufacturing	2	45,930	31
20	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers	Manufacturing	2	45,920	162
21	Sheet Metal Workers	Architecture - Construction	2	45,920	72
22	Procurement Clerks	Business Admin	2	45,720	43
23	Cargo and Freight Agents	Trans/Dist/Logistics	2	45,440	175
24	Information and Record Clerks, All Other	Business Admin	2	45,370	118
25	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders	Manufacturing	2	45,290	133
26	Public Safety Telecommunicators	Law, Public Safety	2	44,650	35
27	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All Other	Manufacturing	2	44,390	37
28	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers	Manufacturing	2	43,590	108
29	Roofers	Architecture - Construction	2	43,520	54
30	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers	Manufacturing	2	43,120	290
31	Food Batchmakers	Manufacturing	2	42,890	181
32	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setter Operators	Manufacturing	2	41,760	39
33	Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals	Agriculture	2	41,640	92
34	Computer Systems Analysts	Information Technology	3	97,260	153
35	Facilities Managers	Business Admin	3	93,250	45
36	Dental Hygienists	Health Science	3	72,950	51
37	Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians	Trans/Dist/Logistics	3	71,190	89
38	Diagnostic Medical Sonographers	Health Science	3	69,140	32
39	Compliance Officers	Government Admin	3	64,650	135
40	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists	Manufacturing	3	64,320	47
41	Physical Therapist Assistants	Health Science	3	62,590	74
42	Radiologic Technologists and Technicians	Health Science	3	62,420	58
43	Executive Secretaries	Business Admin	3	62,140	105
44	Respiratory Therapists	Health Science	3	62,120	71
45	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers	Arts, Audio/Video Tech, COM	3	61,970	177
46	Industrial Machinery Mechanics	Manufacturing	3	59,660	151
47	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines	Trans/Dist/Logistics	3	57,930	51
48	Chefs and Head Cooks	Hospitality - Tourism	3	56,600	87
49	Paramedics	Law, Public Safety	3	56,490	100
50	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists	Trans/Dist/Logistics	3	56,390	136
51	Electricians	Architecture - Construction	3	55,230	302
52	Police and Sheriff?s Patrol Officers	Law, Public Safety	3	54,960	262
53	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters	Architecture - Construction	3	54,810	154
54	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators	Agriculture	3	54,460	38
55	Maintenance Workers, Machinery	Manufacturing	3	54,440	40
56	Computer User Support Specialists	Information Technology	3	53,270	168
57	Airfield Operations Specialists	Trans/Dist/Logistics	3	53,220	54
58	Chemical Technicians	Manufacturing	3	52,970	42
59	Medical Records Specialists	Health Science	3	52,940	112
60	Surgical Technologists	Health Science	3	52,700	44
61	Tool and Die Makers	Manufacturing	3	52,330	26
62	Construction and Building Inspectors	Government Admin	3	52,240	28
63	Machinists	Manufacturing	3	51,480	355
64	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics	Architecture - Construction	3	51,340	214
65	Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians	Manufacturing	3	51,280	42
66	Medical Appliance Technicians	Manufacturing	3	50,990	77
67	Paralegals and Legal Assistants	Law, Public Safety	3	50,820	215
68	Firefighters	Law, Public Safety	3	50,560	134
69	Tax Examiners and Collectors, and Revenue Agents	Government Admin	3	50,280	49

<BACK NEXT>

Job Zone 2030 Projected Openings

Chart

Job Zone 2022 Average Wages

Chart