Highest-paying trades in Tennessee
26 trades ranked by median hourly wage, with the range, the rank among states and the union scale.
Every trade in Tennessee, ranked by median pay
| # | Trade | Median $/hr | Median $/yr | 90th pct $/hr | Jobs | State rank | 10-yr real change | vs US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Construction manager | $52.98 | $110,200 | $88.11 | 5,860 | 25th of 51 | +5.3% | 4% below |
| 2 | Elevator mechanic | $48.31 | $100,490 | $58.24 | 700 | 26th of 37 | +36.2% | 9% below |
| 3 | Lineman | $40.22 | $83,660 | $50.48 | 3,900 | 38th of 51 | -9.8% | 12% below |
| 4 | Construction supervisor | $35.81 | $74,470 | $52.08 | 17,770 | 46th of 51 | +4.1% | 7% below |
| 5 | Brickmason | $30.70 | $63,850 | $36.36 | 1,050 | 23rd of 50 | +7.4% | 3% above |
| 6 | Millwright | $29.72 | $61,810 | $36.48 | 1,060 | 36th of 48 | -4.1% | 6% below |
| 7 | Electrician | $29.37 | $61,090 | $44.31 | 17,070 | 37th of 51 | -2.3% | 3% below |
| 8 | Crane operator | $28.56 | $59,410 | $40.43 | 660 | 44th of 50 | +2.9% | 13% below |
| 9 | Diesel mechanic | $28.46 | $59,190 | $38.74 | 5,720 | 39th of 51 | -0.1% | 4% below |
| 10 | Sheet metal worker | $28.45 | $59,170 | $38.15 | 1,850 | 32nd of 50 | +14.3% | 4% below |
| 11 | Plumber | $28.17 | $58,600 | $39.43 | 9,270 | 41st of 51 | -6.3% | 8% below |
| 12 | Ironworker | $27.29 | $56,750 | $35.91 | 1,240 | 39th of 50 | +2.6% | 10% below |
| 13 | HVAC technician | $26.68 | $55,490 | $39.23 | 9,740 | 45th of 51 | +2.9% | 9% below |
| 14 | Heavy equipment operator | $25.00 | $52,000 | $36.27 | 10,660 | 39th of 51 | +4.0% | 13% below |
| 15 | Boilermaker | $24.91 | $51,810 | $53.20 | 180 | 35th of 37 | -37.1% | 32% below |
| 16 | Carpenter | $24.44 | $50,830 | $31.95 | 8,200 | 38th of 51 | +4.2% | 16% below |
| 17 | Machinist | $23.85 | $49,600 | $33.86 | 8,270 | 50th of 51 | -4.2% | 16% below |
| 18 | Glazier | $23.37 | $48,610 | $30.35 | 880 | 37th of 50 | +10.3% | 15% below |
| 19 | Insulation worker | $23.28 | $48,410 | $34.37 | 1,160 | 29th of 48 | — | 1% below |
| 20 | Welder | $23.10 | $48,040 | $30.87 | 12,510 | 50th of 51 | -3.0% | 11% below |
| 21 | Cement mason | $23.04 | $47,910 | $29.06 | 3,920 | 43rd of 51 | +6.7% | 16% below |
| 22 | Drywall installer | $22.84 | $47,510 | $31.56 | 1,150 | 38th of 49 | +0.1% | 19% below |
| 23 | Roofer | $21.97 | $45,690 | $29.49 | 2,110 | 46th of 51 | +3.2% | 18% below |
| 24 | Construction laborer | $21.64 | $45,000 | $28.84 | 26,250 | 37th of 51 | +17.6% | 5% below |
| 25 | Tile setter | $20.95 | $43,570 | $28.44 | 350 | 43rd of 47 | -9.1% | 22% below |
| 26 | Painter | $20.78 | $43,230 | $29.34 | 3,040 | 48th of 51 | +3.6% | 13% below |
Construction jobs in Tennessee
Prevailing wage in Tennessee
Davis-Bacon determinations set the minimum wage package on federally funded construction. In Tennessee, 38 of 95 counties with a Building rate for electricians use a union contract rate (typical package $47.70/hr including fringe). Look up any county and trade.
Metros in Tennessee
Questions this page answers
What is the highest-paying trade in Tennessee?
Construction managers had the highest median wage among the trades tracked here at $52.98 an hour in May 2025, followed by elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($48.31) and electrical power-line installers and repairers ($40.22).
How does Tennessee compare with the rest of the country?
Across the 26 trades listed, 1 pay above the national median in Tennessee and 25 pay below it. The state's cost of living is 91.9% of the US average (BEA).
Sources and notes
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Tennessee.
- BLS Current Employment Statistics through 2026-08.
- BEA Regional Price Parities.
- SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations (not the official determination).