BLS OEWS May 2025 · SOC 47-2111
Electrician Salary in Tennessee 2026
Snapshot 6 September 2026
$61,090/yr median · $29.37/hr
State Median
$61k
vs. National
-$2k
Top 10%
$92k
COL-Adjusted
$68k
Electrician Salary Range in Tennessee
The full wage spread for electricians (occupation 47-2111) in Tennessee, from the lowest-paid 10% to the highest-paid 10%. All three figures are reported directly by BLS. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026.
10th percentile
$40k
$39,600/yr
Lowest-paid 10%
Median (50th)
$61k
$61,090/yr
Typical electrician
90th percentile
$92k
$92,160/yr
Highest-paid 10%
An electrician in the bottom 10% of Tennessee earners makes about $39,600/yr, while the top 10% earn $92,160/yr or more, a range of $52,560. The 10th percentile is a published BLS wage observation (it typically reflects apprentices and newly-licensed journeymen). OEWS publishes no separate entry-level figure, so none is shown.
Where Tennessee Ranks
Tennessee ranks #36 of 50 states for electrician median wages. The national median is $63,190 (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111). Tennessee pays $2,100 below the national average.
Tennessee's cost-of-living index is 90 (MERIC 2026, where 100 = US average). After adjustment, the purchasing power of an electrician's salary here is equivalent to $67,878/yr in national-average dollar terms. This is a MERIC 2026 figure, not a BLS one. The below-average cost of living means electricians here retain more purchasing power than the nominal wage suggests.
Pay by Metro Area
Median annual wage for the major metropolitan areas in Tennessee. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Metros are ordered highest to lowest.
| Metro Area | Median Annual | vs. State Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $72,330 | +11.2k |
| Nashville Metro | $63,340 | +2.3k |
| Memphis | $60,890 | -0.2k |
| Knoxville | $58,640 | -2.5k |
| Clarksville | $58,670 | -2.4k |
Pay by Experience Level
Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split.
| Level | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Apprentice (Year 1) | $14 - $18/hr | $29,000 - $37,000 |
| Apprentice (Year 4) | $20 - $26/hr | $42,000 - $54,000 |
| Journeyman (Employee) | $25 - $36/hr | $52,000 - $75,000 |
| Master Electrician (Employee) | $31 - $44/hr | $64,000 - $92,000 |
| Self-Employed Contractor | $70 - $135/hr billed | $65,000 - $175,000 net |
Tennessee Licensing Requirements
See full 50-state licensing matrix at electriciansalary.com/licensing
Union Presence in Tennessee
IBEW Locals: IBEW Local 429 (Nashville - state's largest), Local 474 (Memphis), Local 760 (Knoxville), Local 175 (Chattanooga)
Union membership (all workers): In 2025, 4.8% of all wage and salary workers in Tennessee were union members and 5.7% were covered by a union contract (BLS, all occupations, not electricians alone).
Union pay gap: Nationally in 2025, full-time union members in construction and extraction occupations had median weekly earnings of $1,561, against $1,004 for non-union workers, about 55% higher before benefits (BLS). BLS does not publish this split for electricians alone or by state.
Source: BLS, Union Members 2025 (Current Population Survey annual averages), Tables 4 and 5. BLS publishes no electrician-only union rate by state.
Full IBEW wage scale breakdown and union vs non-union analysis
Job Outlook in Tennessee
Tennessee electricians have one of the strongest near-term demand profiles in the Southeast, driven by Ford's BlueOval City megasite (Stanton, ~50 miles east of Memphis) - a $5.6 billion EV truck assembly plant and adjacent SK On battery plants. Nashville's residential and commercial construction boom continues (Nashville is among the fastest-growing US large metros). Volkswagen Chattanooga expansion and the Knoxville Oak Ridge National Laboratory complex add to industrial demand.
Major Employers in Tennessee
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do electricians make in Tennessee?
What is the salary range for electricians in Tennessee?
How does Tennessee rank for electrician pay?
Do I need a license to work as an electrician in Tennessee?
Are union electricians better paid in Tennessee?
What is the job outlook for electricians in Tennessee?
Related Pages
State 10th-percentile, median and 90th-percentile wage figures: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, SOC 47-2111. Snapshot taken 6 September 2026. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Metro figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan wage estimates, occupation 47-2111. Cost-of-living index: MERIC cost of living index, 2026 (100 = US average), a separate non-BLS source. Pay-by-level ladder: Editorial estimates built from state apprenticeship wage schedules and IBEW/IEC agreement rates. Not BLS: OEWS reports all electricians together under 47-2111 and publishes no apprentice, journeyman or master split. IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.