OPT Jobs in Tennessee
Tennessee's F-1 OPT job market is anchored by healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and logistics, with Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville offering the highest concentration of employers who actively hire OPT workers. The state's growing tech presence and research universities add further depth to sponsorship opportunities.
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Compensation: $19.00 per hour
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
The salary range for this position reflects a variety of factors. Compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s geographic location, relevant experience, education, skills, and alignment with internal equity. Market conditions, budgetary considerations, and organizational compensation guidelines may also influence the final offer.
Make an Impact. Build a Career.
At Pace®, everything we do is built upon an unwavering commitment to making the world a safer, healthier place. Since 1978, we’ve continued developing innovative practices that drive sustainability and empower our partners with accurate quality data at every critical moment and milestone.
That's why we need you - your curiosity, your talents, and your drive - to help us advance this important work, and your career.
We’re seeking curious, motivated individuals who are passionate about protecting our environment and the communities we serve. If you’re looking to develop your skills, contribute to meaningful scientific work, and build a long-term career in environmental science, Pace® could be the perfect place for you.
Find Your Place at Pace®
Join us as a Scientist and put your passion for science to work in our environmental testing laboratory. In this role, you’ll conduct hands-on analysis within our laboratories, helping ensure the integrity and quality of environmental data that impacts communities and ecosystems.
What You’ll Do
- Work with instruments such as GC, HPLC, ICP and more
- Analyze air, water, and soil samples using established chemistry and biochemistry methods looking for environmental contaminants
- Review and interpret the results from the sample analysis
- Accurately document procedures, observations, and results to maintain high-quality, organized laboratory records
- Clean, maintain, and calibrate laboratory instruments and equipment
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or other STEM related degrees — or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. We are happy to provide training!
- Ability to work effectively in a laboratory environment, including standing for extended periods, working around strong odors, and wearing required PPE (lab coat, safety glasses, gloves—all provided by Pace®)
Find Your Place at Pace - We need you - your curiosity, your talents, and your drive - to help us advance this important work.
Benefits
When you join Pace®, you commit to work that makes a positive impact on our communities and our world. We commit to supporting you with benefits and perks that make a positive impact on your life. Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program which includes competitive salaries, medical, dental vision, 401K retirement savings plan (100% vested immediately in the employer match), life, disability and voluntary benefits, paid time off for holiday, sick and vacation days, HSA, wellness program, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance program, parental leave, optional legal coverage and ID theft.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Pace® provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, genetics, protected veteran status, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Scientist
Compensation: $19.00 per hour
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
The salary range for this position reflects a variety of factors. Compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s geographic location, relevant experience, education, skills, and alignment with internal equity. Market conditions, budgetary considerations, and organizational compensation guidelines may also influence the final offer.
Make an Impact. Build a Career.
At Pace®, everything we do is built upon an unwavering commitment to making the world a safer, healthier place. Since 1978, we’ve continued developing innovative practices that drive sustainability and empower our partners with accurate quality data at every critical moment and milestone.
That's why we need you - your curiosity, your talents, and your drive - to help us advance this important work, and your career.
We’re seeking curious, motivated individuals who are passionate about protecting our environment and the communities we serve. If you’re looking to develop your skills, contribute to meaningful scientific work, and build a long-term career in environmental science, Pace® could be the perfect place for you.
Find Your Place at Pace®
Join us as a Scientist and put your passion for science to work in our environmental testing laboratory. In this role, you’ll conduct hands-on analysis within our laboratories, helping ensure the integrity and quality of environmental data that impacts communities and ecosystems.
What You’ll Do
- Work with instruments such as GC, HPLC, ICP and more
- Analyze air, water, and soil samples using established chemistry and biochemistry methods looking for environmental contaminants
- Review and interpret the results from the sample analysis
- Accurately document procedures, observations, and results to maintain high-quality, organized laboratory records
- Clean, maintain, and calibrate laboratory instruments and equipment
What You’ll Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, or other STEM related degrees — or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. We are happy to provide training!
- Ability to work effectively in a laboratory environment, including standing for extended periods, working around strong odors, and wearing required PPE (lab coat, safety glasses, gloves—all provided by Pace®)
Find Your Place at Pace - We need you - your curiosity, your talents, and your drive - to help us advance this important work.
Benefits
When you join Pace®, you commit to work that makes a positive impact on our communities and our world. We commit to supporting you with benefits and perks that make a positive impact on your life. Full-time roles are eligible for our comprehensive benefits program which includes competitive salaries, medical, dental vision, 401K retirement savings plan (100% vested immediately in the employer match), life, disability and voluntary benefits, paid time off for holiday, sick and vacation days, HSA, wellness program, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement, Employee Assistance program, parental leave, optional legal coverage and ID theft.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Pace® provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, creed, color, religion, genetics, protected veteran status, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
Search F-1 OPT Jobs by Industry in Tennessee
Tips for Finding OPT Jobs in Tennessee
Target Tennessee's healthcare corridor
Nashville is the U.S. headquarters for more healthcare companies per capita than almost anywhere else in the country. Health informatics, clinical research, and medical device roles here routinely sponsor OPT candidates with relevant STEM or health sciences backgrounds.
Tap into university research programs
Vanderbilt, the University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Tech all have active industry partnerships. OPT roles frequently originate from research collaborations, making on-campus networking and faculty connections a reliable pipeline into sponsored positions.
Search by industry, not just job title
Tennessee's sponsorship activity is concentrated in specific sectors. On Migrate Mate, filter by industry alongside location to surface F-1 OPT-eligible openings in Tennessee's strongest hiring fields rather than sorting through irrelevant postings.
Focus on STEM OPT extension-eligible roles
Tennessee's advanced manufacturing and technology employers, including automotive suppliers and logistics firms, frequently offer roles that qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Prioritizing these employers gives you significantly more time to secure long-term sponsorship.
Engage with Memphis logistics and supply chain employers
Memphis is one of the busiest distribution hubs in the country, home to major logistics and supply chain operations. Operations research, data analytics, and industrial engineering OPT roles are common here and are often overlooked by candidates focused solely on Nashville.
Connect with Tennessee's foreign direct investment network
Tennessee attracts significant investment from Japanese and German automotive companies, including Nissan and Volkswagen. Multinational employers with foreign parent companies often have more established international hiring processes and are generally more comfortable sponsoring OPT workers.
See all 3,445+ F-1 OPT jobs in Tennessee
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Get Access To All JobsF-1 OPT Jobs in Tennessee: Frequently Asked Questions
Which industries in Tennessee sponsor the most F-1 OPT visas?
Healthcare and health technology lead F-1 OPT sponsorship activity in Tennessee, driven by Nashville's dense concentration of hospital systems and health services companies. Advanced manufacturing, logistics and supply chain, information technology, and financial services also generate consistent OPT hiring. Engineering roles tied to automotive manufacturing in Middle and East Tennessee round out the most active sponsoring sectors.
Which cities in Tennessee have the most F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
Nashville has the highest volume of F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in Tennessee, particularly in healthcare, technology, and professional services. Memphis is the second-largest market, concentrated in logistics, distribution, and healthcare. Knoxville offers strong opportunities tied to the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, while Chattanooga has a growing manufacturing and technology presence.
What types of roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in Tennessee?
Roles that directly align with your field of study qualify for F-1 OPT in Tennessee. Common qualifying positions include software engineers, data analysts, clinical research coordinators, biomedical engineers, supply chain analysts, financial analysts, and mechanical engineers in manufacturing. STEM-designated degree holders can also pursue roles qualifying for the 24-month extension, which covers a broad range of technical and analytical positions.
How do I find F-1 OPT jobs in Tennessee that offer sponsorship?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students and filters jobs by visa type, so you can search F-1 OPT-eligible openings in Tennessee without sorting through listings that don't apply to your situation. Beyond job boards, attending career fairs hosted by Vanderbilt, UT Knoxville, or Tennessee State University connects you directly with employers actively recruiting OPT candidates in the state.
Are there any Tennessee-specific considerations I should know about for F-1 OPT sponsorship?
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, which is relevant context when evaluating offers but does not affect OPT eligibility or sponsorship requirements. Because the state's economy is heavily anchored in healthcare, any OPT candidate in health-related fields will find unusually strong employer familiarity with international hiring. Tennessee's proximity to several major research institutions also means employer-university pipelines are well-established and worth leveraging directly.