This is a breakdown of the average wage for Tri-Cities job sectors and their regional context with occupational insights.
Financial Activities, $100,174, This sector shows some of the highest earnings in the region.
Manufacturing, $84,528, A strong driver for the region. Production occupations, specifically workers on the floor average $49,380 in Kingsport-Bristol and $43,930 in Johnson City.
Information, $74,730, A smaller but high-paying sector. Specialized roles (Computer/Math) in the region average between $75k and $87k.
Private Education & Health Services, $75,906, Healthcare is a dominant economic engine. Practitioners (Doctors/Nurses): Avg $86,050 (Johnson City) / $86,000+ (Kingsport) Support Staff: Avg $32,000 to $37,000.
Wholesale Trade, $75,914, Significantly higher than Retail Trade, reflecting the region’s logistics hubs.
Construction, $73,880, Construction & Extraction occupations (individual workers) average $49,600 to $53,000, while the industry average (including management/owners) is higher.
Professional & Business Services, $73,360, Includes legal, engineering, and tech services. Legal occupations in Kingsport alone average $92,000+.
Government, $68,372, Includes local, state, and federal. State government positions in the region typically average $66kâ to $71k.
Transportation & Utilities, $62,736, Transportation occupations (drivers/movers) average $41,000 to $47,000, with utility operators earning significantly more (often $80k+).
Retail Trade, $41,676, One of the largest employing sectors but with lower wage density. Sales occupations average $38k to $40k.
Other Services, $34,777, Includes repair, personal care, and laundry services.
Leisure Services, $28,984, (Hospitality & Food Service). Food prep and serving occupations are the lowest-paid group, averaging $28,500 to $29k.
This report is a combined effort of human and AI analysis.
(c) 2026 donfenley.com