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.

wdt_ID 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.

wdt_ID 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

wdt_ID 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

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