Skilled Wages

Construction laborer salary in Tennessee

Median $21.64 an hour for 26,250 construction laborers, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$21.64/hrMedian hourly wageTennessee, May data
$45,000/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$16.79 – $28.8410th to 90th percentilehourly range
26,250Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-13

Construction laborer pay in Tennessee: the full range

Wage percentiles, TennesseeMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40/hrTennessee: 10th $16.79 · 25th $18.11 · median $21.64 · 75th $23.78 · 90th $28.84Tennessee$21.64$16.79$28.84United States: 10th $16.87 · 25th $18.57 · median $22.66 · 75th $28.72 · 90th $37.54United States$22.66
Hourly wage percentiles for construction laborers: Tennessee vs United States, May 2025.

Tennessee ranks 37th of 51 states for median construction laborer pay, and 30th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $23.55). 26,250 construction laborers work in the state. The top 10% earn 1.7× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$16.79 – $18.11$34,910 – $37,670roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$18.11 – $23.78$37,670 – $49,450the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$23.78 – $28.84$49,450 – $59,990the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Construction laborer pay by metro in Tennessee

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30/hrNashville: $22.21Nashville$22.21Knoxville: $22.18Knoxville$22.18Kingsport: $21.81Kingsport$21.81Memphis: $21.54Memphis$21.54Jackson: $21.45Jackson$21.45Cleveland: $21.24Cleveland$21.24Chattanooga: $20.80Chattanooga$20.80Clarksville: $20.17Clarksville$20.17Johnson City: $19.79Johnson City$19.79Morristown: $18.46Morristown$18.46
Median hourly wage for construction laborers by metro area in Tennessee, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Nashville$17.62$22.21$23.06$28.499,1703% above
Knoxville$17.14$22.18$23.95$32.033,6402% above
Kingsport$16.30$21.81$25.24$31.841,4301% above
Memphis$16.81$21.54$23.36$31.133,940about the same as
Jackson$16.63$21.45$25.09$27.835801% below
Cleveland$15.80$21.24$24.11$30.483102% below
Chattanooga$15.93$20.80$22.73$28.931,8004% below
Clarksville$15.70$20.17$22.19$26.876207% below
Johnson City$15.88$19.79$22.51$25.555809% below
Morristown$16.09$18.46$21.37$25.3552015% below

Cost-of-living adjusted: median divided by the BEA regional price parity for the metro (2024, US = 100).

Construction laborer wages in Tennessee over time

Tennessee, 1999-2025TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$5$10$15$20$25200020052010201520202025$22.66United States$21.64Tennessee
Median hourly wage for construction laborers, Tennessee vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTennessee $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$9.65$18.65$10.8519,650
2000$10.06$18.81$11.1517,240
2001$10.31$18.74$11.5715,520
2002$10.69$19.13$11.9014,350
2003$10.72$18.76$11.8613,560
2004$10.83$18.46$12.1014,590
2005$11.17$18.41$12.2217,340
2006$11.40$18.21$12.6619,490
2007$11.71$18.18$13.1320,750
2008$12.00$17.94$13.7121,400
2009$12.09$18.14$14.0117,110
2010$12.24$18.07$14.0816,840
2011$12.36$17.69$14.3016,210
2012$12.53$17.57$14.4217,660
2013$12.87$17.79$14.6416,470
2014$13.24$18.01$14.9516,210
2015$13.55$18.41$15.3416,680
2016$13.81$18.52$16.0718,000
2017$14.15$18.58$16.6019,830
2018$14.73$18.89$17.2120,180
2019$15.50$19.52$17.7217,940
2020$16.49$20.51$18.2217,550
2021$17.49$20.78$18.1622,390
2022$18.06$19.87$19.5924,150
2023$19.17$20.25$21.7824,830
2024$21.23$21.79$22.4725,390
2025$21.64$21.64$22.6626,250

In today's dollars, the median construction laborer wage in Tennessee changed by +17.6% over the last ten years of data and by +10.9% since 2019.

Are there more construction laborer jobs in Tennessee?

+46.3%Jobs since 201917,940 then, 26,250 in 2025
+57.4%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
8.0Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 21st of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of construction laborers counted in Tennessee has changed by +33.6%, against +43.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +46.3%.

Construction laborers in Tennessee vs United States, 1999 = 100TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages5075100125150175200020052010201520202025144United States134Tennessee
Jobs counted by the BLS employer survey, Tennessee vs United States, indexed to 1999 = 100. Shaded bands mark survey method changes.
Table
YearTennessee jobsTennessee indexUS index
199919,650100100
200017,24088108
200115,52079108
200214,35073109
200313,56069110
200414,59074112
200517,34088122
200619,49099133
200720,750106138
200821,400109134
200917,11087112
201016,84086102
201116,21082102
201217,66090107
201316,47084108
201416,21082112
201516,68085116
201618,00092120
201719,830101126
201820,180103131
201917,94091134
202017,55089127
202122,390114127
202224,150123133
202324,830126134
202425,390129138
202526,250134144

Job counts are BLS OEWS survey estimates built from three years of samples, so moves of a few percent from one year to the next are within the survey's margin. Self-employed tradespeople are not counted. Areas with fewer than 3,000 jobs or a large sampling error are shown as a single figure rather than a trend.

Outlook for construction laborers in Tennessee

+16.5%Projected growth in Tennessee2024–2034, state agency
3,780Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
37,260Jobs in 202443,390 projected for 2034
+7.3%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of construction laborers in the state to change by +16.5% between 2024 and 2034, from 37,260 to 43,390, with about 3,780 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +7.3% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 26,250 counted by the BLS employer survey.

Source: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034 long-term projections (state projections page).

Union scale and prevailing wage for construction laborers in Tennessee

On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay construction laborers at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 0 of the 95 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package — an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $12.54). The market median for the state is $21.64.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TNAnderson: $14.47 (survey)Bedford: $16.99 (survey)Benton: $11.54 (survey)Bledsoe: $12.99 (survey)Blount: $14.47 (survey)Bradley: $16.41 (survey)Campbell: $14.47 (survey)Cannon: $12.49 (survey)Carroll: $11.54 (survey)Carter: $12.54 (survey)Cheatham: $12.49 (survey)Chester: $14.98 (survey)Claiborne: $11.94 (survey)Clay: $11.94 (survey)Cocke: $12.99 (survey)Coffee: $16.99 (survey)Crockett: $14.98 (survey)Cumberland: $11.94 (survey)Davidson: $12.38 (survey)Decatur: $11.54 (survey)DeKalb: $11.94 (survey)Dickson: $12.49 (survey)Dyer: $11.54 (survey)Fayette: $15.27 (survey)Fentress: $11.94 (survey)Franklin: $16.99 (survey)Gibson: $11.54 (survey)Giles: $16.99 (survey)Grainger: $14.47 (survey)Greene: $12.99 (survey)Grundy: $16.99 (survey)Hamblen: $13.04 (survey)Hamilton: $16.41 (survey)Hancock: $11.94 (survey)Hardeman: $11.54 (survey)Hardin: $11.54 (survey)Hawkins: $12.32 (survey)Haywood: $11.54 (survey)Henderson: $11.54 (survey)Henry: $11.54 (survey)Hickman: $12.49 (survey)Houston: $11.54 (survey)Humphreys: $11.54 (survey)Jackson: $11.94 (survey)Jefferson: $13.20 (survey)Johnson: $12.99 (survey)Knox: $14.50 (survey)Lake: $11.54 (survey)Lauderdale: $11.54 (survey)Lawrence: $16.99 (survey)Lewis: $16.99 (survey)Lincoln: $16.99 (survey)Loudon: $14.47 (survey)McMinn: $12.99 (survey)McNairy: $11.54 (survey)Macon: $12.49 (survey)Madison: $14.98 (survey)Marion: $16.41 (survey)Marshall: $16.99 (survey)Maury: $12.49 (survey)Meigs: $12.99 (survey)Monroe: $12.99 (survey)Montgomery: $14.48 (survey)Moore: $16.99 (survey)Morgan: $14.47 (survey)Obion: $11.54 (survey)Overton: $11.94 (survey)Perry: $16.99 (survey)Pickett: $11.94 (survey)Polk: $16.41 (survey)Putnam: $11.94 (survey)Rhea: $12.99 (survey)Roane: $14.47 (survey)Robertson: $12.49 (survey)Rutherford: $12.49 (survey)Scott: $11.94 (survey)Sequatchie: $16.41 (survey)Sevier: $12.99 (survey)Shelby: $15.27 (survey)Smith: $12.49 (survey)Stewart: $11.54 (survey)Sullivan: $12.32 (survey)Sumner: $12.49 (survey)Tipton: $15.27 (survey)Trousdale: $12.49 (survey)Unicoi: $12.54 (survey)Union: $14.47 (survey)Van Buren: $12.99 (survey)Warren: $11.94 (survey)Washington: $12.73 (survey)Wayne: $16.99 (survey)Weakley: $11.54 (survey)White: $11.94 (survey)Williamson: $12.49 (survey)Wilson: $12.49 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$11.94$12.49$12.99$15.27survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for construction laborers by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (survey)$10$15$20$25/hrHamilton (Chattanooga): market median $20.80, prevailing (survey) $16.41, gap −$4.39Hamilton (Chattanooga)−$4.39Bradley (Cleveland): market median $21.24, prevailing (survey) $16.41, gap −$4.83Bradley (Cleveland)−$4.83Jefferson (Morristown): market median $18.46, prevailing (survey) $13.20, gap −$5.26Jefferson (Morristown)−$5.26Montgomery (Clarksville): market median $20.17, prevailing (survey) $14.48, gap −$5.69Montgomery (Clarksville)−$5.69Fayette (Memphis): market median $21.54, prevailing (survey) $15.27, gap −$6.27Fayette (Memphis)−$6.27Chester (Jackson): market median $21.45, prevailing (survey) $14.98, gap −$6.47Chester (Jackson)−$6.47Washington (Johnson City): market median $19.79, prevailing (survey) $12.73, gap −$7.06Washington (Johnson City)−$7.06Knox (Knoxville): market median $22.18, prevailing (survey) $14.50, gap −$7.68Knox (Knoxville)−$7.68Hawkins (Kingsport): market median $21.81, prevailing (survey) $12.32, gap −$9.49Hawkins (Kingsport)−$9.49Cannon (Nashville): market median $22.21, prevailing (survey) $12.49, gap −$9.72Cannon (Nashville)−$9.72
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for construction laborers, metro counties in Tennessee.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
BedfordSurvey SUTN2017-004 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260151
CoffeeSurvey SUTN2017-004 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260151
FranklinSurvey SUTN2017-011 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260158
GilesSurvey SUTN2017-011 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260158
GrundySurvey SUTN2017-014 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260161
LawrenceSurvey SUTN2017-014 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260161
LewisSurvey SUTN2017-020 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260167
LincolnSurvey SUTN2017-020 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260167
MarshallSurvey SUTN2017-021 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260168
MooreSurvey SUTN2017-021 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260168
PerrySurvey SUTN2017-025 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260172
WayneSurvey SUTN2017-025 2021-04-16$13.00$3.99$16.99TN20260172
BradleySurvey SUTN2017-047 2021-04-16$14.11$2.30$16.41TN20260194
HamiltonSurvey SUTN2017-033 2021-04-16$14.11$2.30$16.41TN20260180
MarionSurvey SUTN2017-037 2021-04-16$14.11$2.30$16.41TN20260184

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Residential, Heavy and Highway rates differ; look them up on the Tennessee prevailing wage page. This is not the official wage determination.

Is construction work growing in Tennessee?

169.4kConstruction jobsTennessee, 2026-09
+0.8%Change over 12 monthsseasonally unadjusted
Construction employment, 1990-202650k100k150k200k19901995200020052010201520202025169kSep 2026
Construction employment in Tennessee (thousands), construction supersector, BLS CES, not seasonally adjusted. Grey bands are recessions.

Contractor pay by county

Average pay at specialty trade contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just construction laborers), from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages. Across the 80 counties that report both years, specialty trade contractor employment (all trades) went from 69,010 in 2015 to 102,706 in 2025, +48.8%.

CountyEstablishmentsEmployeesAverage annual payAvg weekly wage
Bedford County100921$94,972$1,826
Haywood County27235$90,389$1,738
Roane County54598$87,468$1,682
Marion County28286$87,072$1,674
Williamson County4245,452$85,205$1,639
Davidson County1,18420,362$85,012$1,635
Shelby County85513,271$84,922$1,633
Anderson County941,351$81,706$1,571
Wilson County3042,332$79,342$1,526
Sumner County3383,111$79,181$1,523
Robertson County1521,220$77,372$1,488
Rutherford County5704,977$76,799$1,477

Keep comparing

Construction laborer pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Tennessee

More on Tennessee

Questions this page answers

How much do construction laborers make in Tennessee?

The median construction laborer in Tennessee earned $21.64 an hour ($45,000 a year) in May 2025, 5% below the national median of $22.66. The middle half earn $18.11–$23.78; the top 10% earn more than $28.84.

Where does Tennessee rank for construction laborer pay?

Tennessee ranks 37th of 51 states for construction laborer pay, with a median of $21.64 an hour, and 30th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).

What is the union construction laborer rate in Tennessee?

Davis-Bacon determinations do not list a construction laborer classification for most Tennessee counties, or the trade is not covered; the BLS wage figures above are the best available measure.

How many construction laborers work in Tennessee?

BLS counted 26,250 construction laborers in Tennessee in May 2025, 8.0 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.14; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is construction laborer work growing in Tennessee?

The BLS employer survey count of construction laborers in Tennessee went from 16,680 in 2015 to 26,250 in 2025, +57.4%, and +46.3% since 2019. Tennessee's labor market agency projects +16.5% growth for construction laborers between 2024 and 2034, from 37,260 to 43,390 jobs.

How many construction laborer openings a year are there in Tennessee?

Tennessee projects about 3,780 openings a year for construction laborers over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 120,000 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Tennessee and metro areas, SOC 47-2061. Job counts are survey estimates and exclude the self-employed.
  • BLS Current Employment Statistics, state construction employment through 2026-09.
  • BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages.
  • BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (cost-of-living adjustment).
  • SAM.gov Davis-Bacon wage determinations, current revisions as of 2026-11-13. Not the official determination.
  • BLS Employment Projections, national, 2025-35.
  • State projection: Tennessee labor market information agency via Projections Central, 2024–2034, fetched 2026-10-05.