Someone get Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Chris Fletcher on the phone, because apparently according to a recent career.io poll, the Master Distiller’s gig at The Jack Daniel’s Distillery is the coolest job in Tennessee.

I mean, we can’t argue with them. Not only is Lynchburg a fantastic place to live but our local product blends American-pride, nostalgia, and that certain “it” factor together. It’s the reason over 350,000 folks flock here every year.

The career website surveyed over 3,000 respondents asking them to name the coolest jobs in every state. According to the survey, the top 3 coolest careers in Tennessee are:

#1 Master Distiller – Jack Daniel’s Distillery (Lynchburg)
At Jack Daniel’s in Lynchburg, being the Master Distiller means guarding the secret yeast, taste-testing charcoal-mellowed whiskey, and deciding when Tennessee’s pride is barrel-ready. You’ll earn $75,000 to $120,000+ crafting a spirit with global recognition, hosting VIPs, and preserving a recipe dating to the 1800s. It’s rockstar status in a small town-your signature could be on bottles sipped in over 170 countries. For whiskey lovers, this job blends heritage, flavor, and bragging rights.

#2 Entertainment Manager – Dollywood (Pigeon Forge)
Overseeing shows at Dollywood is like running Broadway in the Smokies. You’ll earn $60,000 to $90,000 managing singers, dancers, and stunt teams in a theme park owned by the Queen of Country herself. One day it’s rehearsals in a 1,800-seat theater, the next it’s wrangling performers for a parade. With free park perks and a stunning mountain backdrop, it’s a vibrant gig full of sparkles, stage lights, and Southern charm. Showbiz with a Smoky twist!

#3 Nuclear Engineer – Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Oak Ridge)
In the hills of Tennessee, Oak Ridge National Lab is nuclear innovation central. With a salary between $90,000 and $130,000, you’ll work with Nobel-level talent designing experimental reactors, running neutron scattering experiments, and modeling breakthroughs with Frontier-one of the world’s fastest supercomputers. From clean energy to climate simulations, your work can have a global impact. It’s science at its most high stakes, where each day could lead to energy revolutions or medical tech leaps.

Top 5 coolest jobs in the U.S.

Across the U.S., the top five coolest jobs went to things from animators crafting iconic Pixar characters in California to marine biologists diving with sea turtles in Hawaii.

Nationally, the top 5 coolest careers in the U.S. are:

#1 Animator – Pixar Animation Studios (Emeryville, CA)
Bring beloved characters like Buzz Lightyear and Joy to life at Pixar’s Emeryville studio, earning $73,000 to $124,000. Pixar animators create scenes that become part of pop culture history while collaborating in a whimsical, high-energy workspace. For creative storytellers with a tech edge, it’s the ultimate blend of art and innovation.

#2 Paleontologist – Field Museum (Chicago, IL)
Paleontologists unearth fossils and curate exhibits at Chicago’s famed Field Museum, with salaries around $85,000. One week might put you on a dig; the next, prepping a T. rex skeleton for display. It’s a hands-on role steeped in science, storytelling, and Jurassic-sized excitement.

#3 Research Scientist – The Hershey Company (Hershey, PA)
Research scientists at Hershey invent the next Reese’s variation or perfect a new chocolate bar in its confectionery labs, earning between $90,000 and $110,000. It’s part chemistry, part creativity—and yes, their office really does smell like chocolate.

#4 Wildlife Biologist – Yellowstone National Park (Yellowstone, WY)
Tracking wolves, monitoring trout, and helping preserve the planet’s first national park while earning $70,000 to $90,000. It’s fieldwork with a backdrop of geysers and bison—science meets wonder in its purest form.

#5 Marine Biologist – NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (Honolulu, HI)
Marine biologists dive into coral reefs and tag endangered species like monk seals while working in a tropical paradise. With salaries ranging from $65,000 to $100,000, it’s meaningful ocean conservation wrapped in an aloha spirit. •

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