Tennessee Electrician Pay by Trade
Updated 2026-10-29 · 1 trade with 5+ disclosed-pay postings
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 $5.6 billion BlueOval City complex in Haywood County, the largest single construction project in state history. Nashville's commercial pipeline — downtown towers, hospital expansions (HCA's hometown market), airport growth, and entertainment-venue construction — provides deep steady volume, while the BlueOval battery plant and supplier park reset the state's industrial ceiling and will employ electricians across construction, commissioning, and maintenance phases for a decade. Memphis adds FedEx's global hub infrastructure, automotive suppliers, and Mississippi River industrial work; Knoxville and Chattanooga contribute TVA-adjacent utility work, the Oak Ridge nuclear complex (a cleared-electrical specialty market), and a growing data center presence in the eastern counties. Licensing is state-level for contractors (CE, CMC classifications) with journeyman credentials handled locally — Nashville enforces its own requirements — keeping mobility reasonable. Tennessee is right-to-work with modest union density concentrated in Nashville, Memphis, and the TVA system (locals include Local 429 Nashville, Local 474 Memphis, Local 175 Chattanooga, and Local 270 Oak Ridge); there is no state prevailing-wage law, so public-work rates follow the market. No income tax and low living costs make posted rates stretch further than the nominal figures suggest. Workforce dynamics are defined by the BlueOval magnet pulling journeymen from across the Southeast on premium packages while Nashville commercial contractors compete for the same hands — apprentice pipelines are expanding but the megaproject timeline is unforgiving. For electricians, BlueOval City is the rate and visibility leader; Nashville commercial work offers the deepest bench of year-round opportunity.
| Trade | Median ($/hr) | Middle 50% ($/hr) | Postings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Journeyman Electrician | $32 | $32–$32.50 | 5 |
Medians come from active postings with disclosed pay; each trade page compares them against BLS OES and IBEW scales. How we calculate pay →
Top employers in Tennessee
Frequently asked questions
What does an electrician make in Tennessee?
Based on 5 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 5 disclosed-pay journeyman electrician postings in Tennessee. Counts change as contractors post and fill roles.