Jobs & Economy in Cookeville
Cookeville's economy runs through a genuinely dominant university presence (Tennessee Tech), a real, large-scale regional healthcare anchor (Cookeville Regional Medical Center), and a national corporate headquarters (Averitt Express) -- a diversified base beyond any single employer.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreTennessee Tech: both an employer and an economic engine
Tennessee Tech University, with 10,701 fall-2025 students and a proportionally large faculty/staff base, is both a major direct employer and a broader economic engine for Cookeville -- student spending, university-adjacent business, and research activity all flow through this single institution's dominant local presence.
Cookeville Regional Medical Center: a real, large-scale regional healthcare employer
This 309-bed regional referral center employs more than 2,400 people directly, with over 200 physicians across 40 specialties, serving more than 350,000 Upper Cumberland residents -- a genuine, large-scale healthcare employer on the same order as similar regional-anchor hospitals elsewhere in this dataset.
Averitt Express: a real national corporate headquarters, not a branch office
Averitt, a privately held American transportation and supply-chain management company, is headquartered in Cookeville with approximately 9,000 employees system-wide across 22+ US locations -- a genuine corporate-headquarters presence adding logistics-sector employment and a broader economic-development profile beyond healthcare and education.
Unemployment runs moderate
Putnam County unemployment was cited at 3.7% (2026) -- moderate, comparable to several other Tier A Tennessee markets in this dataset rather than especially tight or loose.
Key takeaways
- Tennessee Tech (10,701 fall-2025 students) is both a major direct employer and Cookeville's broader economic engine, at ~28% of the city's own population.
- Cookeville Regional Medical Center employs 2,400+ people directly (200+ physicians, 40 specialties), serving 350,000+ Upper Cumberland residents.
- Averitt Express, headquartered in Cookeville, employs approximately 9,000 people system-wide -- a real national corporate headquarters presence.
- Putnam County unemployment was 3.7% (2026) -- moderate, comparable to several other Tier A Tennessee markets in this dataset.
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Cookeville overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert