Journeyman Electrician Pay in Tennessee
Updated 2026-10-30 · Based on 6 active job postings with disclosed pay · Compared to BLS OES data · 8 postings in the last 90 days, up 125% vs. run rate
ElectricianDB tracks 8 active journeyman electricians openings in Tennessee, 6 with disclosed pay. Median hourly pay is $32, with the middle 50% earning $32–$32.38.
Compared to the national median of $38/hr, Tennessee pays 15.79% below average.
The Tennessee electrician labor market
Tennessee is a Sun Belt growth electrician market built on the Nashville boom, Memphis logistics, and a landmark industrial win: Ford's $5.6 billion BlueOval City complex in Haywood County, the largest single construction project in state history. Nashville's commercial pipeline — downtown towers, hospital expansions (HCA's hometown market), airport growth, and entertainment-venue construction — provides deep steady volume, while the BlueOval battery plant and supplier park reset the state's industrial ceiling and will employ electricians across construction, commissioning, and maintenance phases for a decade. Memphis adds FedEx's global hub infrastructure, automotive suppliers, and Mississippi River industrial work; Knoxville and Chattanooga contribute TVA-adjacent utility work, the Oak Ridge nuclear complex (a cleared-electrical specialty market), and a growing data center presence in the eastern counties. Licensing is state-level for contractors (CE, CMC classifications) with journeyman credentials handled locally — Nashville enforces its own requirements — keeping mobility reasonable. Tennessee is right-to-work with modest union density concentrated in Nashville, Memphis, and the TVA system (locals include Local 429 Nashville, Local 474 Memphis, Local 175 Chattanooga, and Local 270 Oak Ridge); there is no state prevailing-wage law, so public-work rates follow the market. No income tax and low living costs make posted rates stretch further than the nominal figures suggest. Workforce dynamics are defined by the BlueOval magnet pulling journeymen from across the Southeast on premium packages while Nashville commercial contractors compete for the same hands — apprentice pipelines are expanding but the megaproject timeline is unforgiving. For electricians, BlueOval City is the rate and visibility leader; Nashville commercial work offers the deepest bench of year-round opportunity.
Government data (BLS)
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports Tennessee Electricians wages (May 2025 OES): median $29.37, 75th percentile $36.57, 90th percentile $44.31.
Source: BLS OES Tennessee (May 2025 OES)
Our postings median ($32/hr) runs 9% above the BLS statewide median — posted openings skew toward higher-paying roles than the survey average.
Union data (IBEW)
| Local | City | Journeyman base ($/hr) | Contract | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 429 | Nashville | $36.82 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 474 | Memphis | $36.75 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
| 175 | Chattanooga | $36.38 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 270 | Oak Ridge | $33 | 2025 | asksparkyai.com |
| 760 | Knoxville | $32.35 | 2026 | asksparkyai.com |
Pay comparison
| Metric | Our Data | BLS | IBEW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median ($/hr) | $32 | $29.37 | $33 |
| 25th percentile ($/hr) | $32 | — | — |
| 75th percentile ($/hr) | $32.38 | $36.57 | — |
| 90th percentile ($/hr) | — | $44.31 | — |
| Sample size | 6 postings | OES survey | 7 locals |
| Source | ElectricianDB | BLS OES | Listed above |
Why the columns differ: our percentiles come from 6 live postings (median + middle 50%). The BLS column shows the three percentiles our dataset carries (median, 75th, 90th) — BLS publishes more than we import. IBEW figures are journeyman base rates (median across 7 in-state locals), not survey percentiles. How we calculate pay →
Highest-paying journeyman electricians openings in Tennessee
- Lead Electrician — NSC Skilled Trades (Lead) · $36–$36/hr
- Electrician — Veterans Health Administration (Memphis) · $30–$35/hr
- JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN $32/HR P/D $100 ALL 7 DAYS - START ASAP — Trillium Construction (Ripley) · $32–$32/hr
- JM ELECTRICIAN $32/HR P /D $100 ALL 7 DAYS - START ASAP — trillium construction (Ripley) · $32–$32/hr
- JM ELECTRICIAN $32/HR P/D $100 ALL 7 DAYS — Trillium Construction (Ripley) · $32–$32/hr
Active projects driving demand
- Ford BlueOval City battery complex (Haywood County) (industrial)
- Nashville commercial, hospital, and airport pipeline (commercial)
- Oak Ridge nuclear complex sustainment and upgrades (industrial)
- Eastern-county data center development (data center)
IBEW locals in Tennessee
Sample postings
Pay above is sourced from active postings including:
- Trillium Construction – JM ELECTRICIAN $32/HR P/D $100 ALL 7 DAYS – $32/hr (Ripley, TN) View posting →
- Trillium Construction – JOURNEYMAN ELECTRICIAN $32/HR P/D $100 ALL 7 DAYS - START ASAP – $32/hr (Ripley, TN) View posting →
- NSC Skilled Trades – Lead Electrician – $36/hr (Lead, TN) View posting →
Top employers hiring journeyman electricians in Tennessee
Journeyman Electrician openings in Tennessee
Frequently asked questions
What does a journeyman electrician earn in Tennessee?
Based on 6 active postings on ElectricianDB, median hourly pay is $32, with the middle 50% earning $32–$32.38. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a Tennessee median of $29.37 for Electricians (May 2025 OES). IBEW journeyman base rates across 7 in-state locals median $33/hr.
How does Tennessee compare to the national median?
Tennessee pays 15.79% below the national median of $38/hr for journeyman electricians.
Who pays journeyman electricians the most in Tennessee?
Among employers with disclosed pay, the most active are Trillium Construction (4 postings), NSC Skilled Trades (1 posting), Veterans Health Administration (1 posting).
What does an electrician make in Tennessee?
Based on 6 disclosed-pay postings tracked by ElectricianDB, the median hourly pay for journeyman electrician work in Tennessee is $32.00/hr. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a statewide electrician median of $29.37/hr.
Where are the highest-paying electrician jobs in Tennessee?
The strongest recent postings cluster around Lead, Memphis, Ripley. Top-end rates on active postings run above the $32.00/hr median — see the highest-paying openings listed on this page for current examples.
Which employers pay electricians the most in Tennessee?
Among employers with repeated postings in Tennessee, Trillium Construction show the highest average disclosed minimums. Averages reflect posted ranges, not verified take-home pay.
Do you need a Tennessee electrician license to work there?
Most states require a license for unsupervised electrical work, and requirements vary by state and municipality — see our step-by-step licensing pathway for Tennessee for the exact hours, exam, and fees.
What's the prevailing wage for electricians in Tennessee?
Prevailing-wage coverage depends on federal and state funding rules that differ by project and jurisdiction — see Tennessee prevailing wage rates for the current determinations.
How many electrician jobs are posted in Tennessee right now?
ElectricianDB is currently tracking 6 disclosed-pay journeyman electrician postings in Tennessee. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.
More on Tennessee
Compare journeyman electricians pay in neighboring states
Already licensed in Tennessee? Check Tennessee reciprocity →