Big bucks? Think scalpel, not paring knife

By HOLLY EDWARDS
Staff Writer

The future is bright for Tennessee workers with computer skills, but not so rosy for shoe-machine operators and railroad-switch operators, according to U.S. Department of Labor projections.

Many shoe-manufacturing and textile jobs have gone overseas, while railroad-switch operations and other manual jobs have been automated, said Michael Wald, a regional economist with the Department of Labor.

Surgeons are the highest paid of the state's 2.9 million workers, earning an average of $191,580 a year. Theater ushers and ticket-takers are the lowest paid, earning $13,810 annually on average.

Here are some other workplace statistics:

If you like lots of co-workers, apply here

  1. Largest private employers based in Tennessee
  2. FedEx Corp. in Memphis: 33,700 employees
  3. Vanderbilt University and Medical Center: 18,000 employees
  4. Lebonheur Childrens Medical Center, Memphis: 8,000
  5. Eastman Chemical Co., in Kingsport: 7,500 employees
  6. Nissan Motor USA in Smyrna: 7,100 employees

Food, fashion, freight offer openings

Occupations with the most openings through 2010

  1. Food service workers: 5,150 new jobs a year
  2. Retail sales clerks: 4,820 new jobs a year
  3. Cashiers: 4,240 new jobs a year
  4. Freight movers: 2,890 new jobs a year
  5. Waiters, waitresses: 2,770 new jobs a year

Happy software engineers...

Fastest percentage growth in jobs through 2010

  1. Computer systems software engineers, from 2,080 jobs in 2000 to 3,960 jobs in 2010
  2. Computer support specialists, from 7,110 jobs in 2000 to 13,300 jobs in 2010
  3. Computer applications software engineers, from 3,300 jobs in 2000 to 6,140 jobs in 2010
  4. Ship engineers, from 280 jobs in 2000 to 520 jobs in 2010
  5. Travel agents, from 1,410 jobs in 2000 to 2,610 jobs in 2010

... and not-so-jolly ranchers

Fastest percentage drop in jobs through 2010

  1. Shoe-machine operators, from 470 jobs in 2000 to 110 jobs in 2010
  2. Railroad brake, signal and switch operators, from 400 jobs in 2000 to 120 jobs in 2010
  3. Textile knitting- and weaving-machine operators, from 1,550 jobs in 2000 to 790 jobs in 2010
  4. Textile bleaching- and dyeing-machine operators, from 580 jobs in 2000 to 310 jobs in 2010
  5. Farmers and ranchers, from 17,770 jobs in 2000 to 9,970 jobs in 2010

Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be ticket-takers

Highest-paying jobs, average annual incomes . . .

  1. Surgeons, $191,580
  2. Anesthesiologists, $182,200
  3. General internists, $174,060
  4. Obstetricians and gynecologists, $169,360
  5. Postsecondary law professors, $159,390

. . . lowest-paying jobs

  1. Theater ushers and ticket-takers, $13,810
  2. Food-service workers and waiters, $14,010
  3. Fast-food cooks, $14,390
  4. Restaurant counter attendants, $14,640
  5. Dining-room attendants and bartender helpers, $14,860

SOURCE: WWW.TENNESSEE.GOV