Skilled Wages

Electrician salary in Tennessee

Median $29.37 an hour for 17,070 electricians, May 2025, with the union scale by county, the job trend since 1999 and the state's own outlook.

$29.37/hrMedian hourly wageTennessee, May data
$61,090/yrMedian annual payfull-time equivalent
$19.04 – $44.3110th to 90th percentilehourly range
17,070Jobs countedemployer survey

Data compiled by Skilled WagesBLS OEWS May 2025; prevailing wage as of 2026-11-06

Electrician pay in Tennessee: the full range

Wage percentiles, TennesseeMarket wage, 10th-90th pctU.S. reference$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrTennessee: 10th $19.04 · 25th $23.26 · median $29.37 · 75th $36.57 · 90th $44.31Tennessee$29.37$19.04$44.31United States: 10th $20.50 · 25th $23.76 · median $30.38 · 75th $40.36 · 90th $52.17United States$30.38
Hourly wage percentiles for electricians: Tennessee vs United States, May 2025.

Tennessee ranks 37th of 51 states for median electrician pay, and 34th once adjusted for cost of living (the cost-of-living-adjusted median is $31.96). 17,070 electricians work in the state. The top 10% earn 2.3× what the bottom 10% earn.

Career stage (approximate)HourlyAnnualWhere it sits in the distribution
Apprentice / entry level$19.04 – $23.26$39,600 – $48,380roughly the 10th to 25th percentile
Journeyman$23.26 – $36.57$48,380 – $76,060the middle half, around the median
Master, foreman or specialist$36.57 – $44.31$76,060 – $92,160the 75th to 90th percentile and above

Where does your pay fall?



Electrician pay by metro in Tennessee

Ranked median wages$0$10$20$30$40/hrChattanooga: $34.77Chattanooga$34.77Nashville: $30.45Nashville$30.45Memphis: $29.27Memphis$29.27Jackson: $29.02Jackson$29.02Cleveland: $28.97Cleveland$28.97Kingsport: $28.88Kingsport$28.88Clarksville: $28.21Clarksville$28.21Knoxville: $28.19Knoxville$28.19Morristown: $27.49Morristown$27.49Johnson City: $25.09Johnson City$25.09
Median hourly wage for electricians by metro area in Tennessee, May 2025.
Metro10thMedian $/hrCost-of-living adjusted90thJobsvs state
Chattanooga$18.28$34.77$38.00$41.261,76018% above
Nashville$22.07$30.45$31.62$44.816,2204% above
Memphis$18.59$29.27$31.75$40.812,770about the same as
Jackson$18.10$29.02$33.94$39.265201% below
Cleveland$20.71$28.97$32.88$39.101201% below
Kingsport$17.99$28.88$33.43$36.847602% below
Clarksville$19.28$28.21$31.03$43.945004% below
Knoxville$18.28$28.19$30.44$38.242,1704% below
Morristown$18.37$27.49$31.82$39.611806% below
Johnson City$18.72$25.09$28.54$48.8127015% below

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

Electrician wages in Tennessee over time

Tennessee, 1999-2025TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages$15$20$25$30$35200020052010201520202025$30.38United States$29.37Tennessee
Median hourly wage for electricians, Tennessee vs United States, 1999–2025, nominal dollars.
Table
YearTennessee $/hrIn 2025 $US $/hrJobs
1999$17.29$33.41$19.1311,150
2000$17.85$33.37$19.2913,320
2001$18.18$33.05$19.6012,500
2002$18.04$32.28$19.9012,340
2003$17.42$30.48$20.0414,190
2004$17.54$29.89$20.3313,440
2005$18.31$30.18$20.5711,860
2006$19.06$30.44$20.9712,010
2007$18.78$29.16$21.5312,020
2008$18.89$28.25$22.3213,750
2009$19.25$28.89$22.6811,970
2010$19.81$29.25$23.2010,800
2011$20.34$29.11$23.7110,940
2012$20.30$28.47$23.9611,110
2013$21.41$29.59$24.2810,050
2014$22.50$30.60$24.579,440
2015$22.14$30.07$24.9410,000
2016$21.83$29.28$25.3510,800
2017$22.36$29.37$26.0111,750
2018$23.68$30.36$26.5312,460
2019$23.78$29.95$27.0112,480
2020$24.99$31.09$27.3612,610
2021$23.32$27.71$28.8713,210
2022$25.55$28.11$28.9615,010
2023$26.62$28.13$29.6117,200
2024$28.46$29.21$29.9819,500
2025$29.37$29.37$30.3817,070

In today's dollars, the median electrician wage in Tennessee changed by -2.3% over the last ten years of data and by -1.9% since 2019.

Are there more electrician jobs in Tennessee?

+36.8%Jobs since 201912,480 then, 17,070 in 2025
+70.7%Jobs over 10 years2015 to 2025, employer survey
5.2Jobs per 1,000 in the stateconcentration 1.1× the US share, 27th of 51 states

Since 1999, the number of electricians counted in Tennessee has changed by +53.1%, against +23.7% for the country as a whole. Since 2019 the state count changed by +36.8%.

Electricians in Tennessee vs United States, 1999 = 100TennesseeUnited StatesSOC 2010SOC 2018 / Method changeExact wages50100150200200020052010201520202025153Tennessee124United States
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
199911,150100100
200013,320120105
200112,500112102
200212,34011197
200314,19012795
200413,44012095
200511,86010699
200612,010108101
200712,020108102
200813,750123103
200911,97010795
201010,8009784
201110,9409884
201211,11010085
201310,0509089
20149,4408593
201510,0009097
201610,8009799
201711,750105103
201812,460112107
201912,480112112
202012,610113107
202113,210118106
202215,010135113
202317,200154116
202419,500175121
202517,070153124

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 electricians in Tennessee

+22.4%Projected growth in Tennessee2024–2034, state agency
2,330Openings per yeargrowth plus replacements
19,840Jobs in 202424,290 projected for 2034
+9.2%US projected growth2025-35, BLS, for comparison

Tennessee's labor market agency projects the number of electricians in the state to change by +22.4% between 2024 and 2034, from 19,840 to 24,290, with about 2,330 openings a year. Nationally, BLS projects +9.2% over 2025-35. State counts include the self-employed, so the base is larger than the 17,070 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 electricians in Tennessee

On federally funded construction in Tennessee, contractors must pay electricians at least the Davis-Bacon rate for the county. 38 of the 95 counties with a Building rate use a union contract rate (typical package $47.70 an hour including fringe); the rest use a survey rate (typical $33.77). The market median for the state is $29.37.

Union contract rateSurvey rate
Union / prevailing package, $/hr, TNAnderson: $51.27 (union)Bedford: $33.77 (survey)Benton: $42.97 (union)Bledsoe: $33.77 (survey)Blount: $47.70 (union)Bradley: $49.98 (union)Campbell: $47.70 (union)Cannon: $30.53 (survey)Carroll: $42.97 (union)Carter: $18.81 (survey)Cheatham: $30.53 (survey)Chester: $52.94 (union)Claiborne: $33.77 (survey)Clay: $33.77 (survey)Cocke: $33.77 (survey)Coffee: $33.77 (survey)Crockett: $52.94 (union)Cumberland: $33.77 (survey)Davidson: $30.53 (survey)Decatur: $42.97 (union)DeKalb: $33.77 (survey)Dickson: $30.53 (survey)Dyer: $42.97 (union)Fayette: $52.94 (union)Fentress: $33.77 (survey)Franklin: $33.77 (survey)Gibson: $42.97 (union)Giles: $33.77 (survey)Grainger: $47.70 (union)Greene: $33.77 (survey)Grundy: $33.77 (survey)Hamblen: $33.69 (survey)Hamilton: $49.98 (union)Hancock: $33.77 (survey)Hardeman: $42.97 (union)Hardin: $42.97 (union)Hawkins: $21.88 (survey)Haywood: $42.97 (union)Henderson: $42.97 (union)Henry: $42.97 (union)Hickman: $30.53 (survey)Houston: $42.97 (union)Humphreys: $42.97 (union)Jackson: $33.77 (survey)Jefferson: $33.69 (survey)Johnson: $33.77 (survey)Knox: $47.70 (union)Lake: $42.97 (union)Lauderdale: $42.97 (union)Lawrence: $33.77 (survey)Lewis: $33.77 (survey)Lincoln: $33.77 (survey)Loudon: $47.70 (union)McMinn: $33.77 (survey)McNairy: $42.97 (union)Macon: $30.53 (survey)Madison: $52.94 (union)Marion: $49.98 (union)Marshall: $33.77 (survey)Maury: $30.53 (survey)Meigs: $33.77 (survey)Monroe: $33.77 (survey)Montgomery: $21.85 (survey)Moore: $33.77 (survey)Morgan: $47.70 (union)Obion: $42.97 (union)Overton: $33.77 (survey)Perry: $33.77 (survey)Pickett: $33.77 (survey)Polk: $49.98 (union)Putnam: $33.77 (survey)Rhea: $33.77 (survey)Roane: $51.27 (union)Robertson: $30.53 (survey)Rutherford: $30.53 (survey)Scott: $33.77 (survey)Sequatchie: $49.98 (union)Sevier: $33.77 (survey)Shelby: $52.94 (union)Smith: $30.53 (survey)Stewart: $42.97 (union)Sullivan: $21.88 (survey)Sumner: $30.53 (survey)Tipton: $52.94 (union)Trousdale: $30.53 (survey)Unicoi: $18.81 (survey)Union: $47.70 (union)Van Buren: $33.77 (survey)Warren: $33.77 (survey)Washington: $18.81 (survey)Wayne: $33.77 (survey)Weakley: $42.97 (union)White: $33.77 (survey)Williamson: $30.53 (survey)Wilson: $30.53 (survey)Union / prevailing package, $/hr$30.53$33.77$37.45$47.70survey rate
Davis-Bacon base + fringe for electricians by county, Building construction. Hatched counties use a survey rate rather than a union contract.
Market median vs prevailing wage by countyMarket medianPrevailing (union)Prevailing (survey)$10$20$30$40$50$60/hrChester (Jackson): market median $29.02, prevailing (union) $52.94, gap +$23.92Chester (Jackson)+$23.92Fayette (Memphis): market median $29.27, prevailing (union) $52.94, gap +$23.67Fayette (Memphis)+$23.67Anderson (Knoxville): market median $28.19, prevailing (union) $51.27, gap +$23.08Anderson (Knoxville)+$23.08Bradley (Cleveland): market median $28.97, prevailing (union) $49.98, gap +$21.01Bradley (Cleveland)+$21.01Hamilton (Chattanooga): market median $34.77, prevailing (union) $49.98, gap +$15.21Hamilton (Chattanooga)+$15.21Stewart (Clarksville): market median $28.21, prevailing (union) $42.97, gap +$14.76Stewart (Clarksville)+$14.76Hamblen (Morristown): market median $27.49, prevailing (survey) $33.69, gap +$6.20Hamblen (Morristown)+$6.20Cannon (Nashville): market median $30.45, prevailing (survey) $30.53, gap +$0.08Cannon (Nashville)+$0.08Carter (Johnson City): market median $25.09, prevailing (survey) $18.81, gap −$6.28Carter (Johnson City)−$6.28Hawkins (Kingsport): market median $28.88, prevailing (survey) $21.88, gap −$7.00Hawkins (Kingsport)−$7.00
Market median (BLS metro wage) vs the Davis-Bacon package (base + fringe) for electricians, metro counties in Tennessee.
CountyRate sourceBaseFringeTotalDetermination
ChesterUnion ELEC0474-001 2025-08-04$36.75$16.19$52.94TN20260198
CrockettUnion ELEC0474-001 2025-08-04$36.75$16.19$52.94TN20260198
FayetteUnion ELEC0474-002 2025-08-04$36.75$16.19$52.94TN20260200
MadisonUnion ELEC0474-001 2025-08-04$36.75$16.19$52.94TN20260183
ShelbyUnion ELEC0474-002 2025-08-04$36.75$16.19$52.94TN20260200
TiptonUnion ELEC0474-002 2025-08-04$36.75$16.19$52.94TN20260189
AndersonUnion ELEC0270-001 2025-06-29$32.61$18.66$51.27TN20260176
RoaneUnion ELEC0270-001 2025-06-29$32.61$18.66$51.27TN20260186
BradleyUnion ELEC0175-005 2024-06-01$35.35$14.63$49.98TN20260194
HamiltonUnion ELEC0175-005 2024-06-01$35.35$14.63$49.98TN20260180
MarionUnion ELEC0175-005 2024-06-01$35.35$14.63$49.98TN20260184
PolkUnion ELEC0175-005 2024-06-01$35.35$14.63$49.98TN20260194
SequatchieUnion ELEC0175-005 2024-06-01$35.35$14.63$49.98TN20260188
BlountUnion ELEC0760-001 2025-06-01$32.45$15.25$47.70TN20260177
CampbellUnion ELEC0760-001 2025-06-01$32.45$15.25$47.70TN20260195

Building construction type, current revisions as of 2026-11-06. 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 electrical contractors establishments by county (all employees, not just electricians), 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
Haywood County762$120,315$2,314
Sumner County66662$95,930$1,845
Blount County41632$90,913$1,748
Shelby County1823,555$88,621$1,704
Williamson County76458$87,863$1,690
Davidson County2315,212$85,114$1,637
Wilson County47352$82,887$1,594
Hamilton County892,192$82,805$1,592
Sullivan County38919$80,590$1,550
Madison County27474$79,601$1,531
Rutherford County90780$76,345$1,468
Dickson County20256$74,418$1,431

Keep comparing

Electrician pay in neighbouring states

Other trades in Tennessee

More on Tennessee

Questions this page answers

How much do electricians make in Tennessee?

The median electrician in Tennessee earned $29.37 an hour ($61,090 a year) in May 2025, 3% below the national median of $30.38. The middle half earn $23.26–$36.57; the top 10% earn more than $44.31.

Where does Tennessee rank for electrician pay?

Tennessee ranks 37th of 51 states for electrician pay, with a median of $29.37 an hour, and 34th after adjusting for Tennessee's cost of living (BEA price parity 91.9, US = 100).

What is the union electrician rate in Tennessee?

Davis-Bacon determinations list a union contract rate for electricians in 38 counties, with a typical package of $47.70 an hour including fringe benefits; see the county table above.

How many electricians work in Tennessee?

BLS counted 17,070 electricians in Tennessee in May 2025, 5.2 per 1,000 jobs (location quotient 1.07; 1.0 is the national average concentration).

Is electrician work growing in Tennessee?

The BLS employer survey count of electricians in Tennessee went from 10,000 in 2015 to 17,070 in 2025, +70.7%, and +36.8% since 2019. Tennessee's labor market agency projects +22.4% growth for electricians between 2024 and 2034, from 19,840 to 24,290 jobs.

How many electrician openings a year are there in Tennessee?

Tennessee projects about 2,330 openings a year for electricians over 2024–2034, counting both new positions and replacements for people who retire or change occupation. Nationally BLS projects about 72,700 a year.

Sources and notes

  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Tennessee and metro areas, SOC 47-2111. 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 2026-11-06. 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.