Independent salary reference. Not affiliated with BLS, IBEW, NECA, or any electrical contractor. All wage figures cite the source; individual earnings vary by employer, certifications, and market.
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BLS OES May 2024

Electrician Salary in Tennessee 2026

Updated 17 April 2026

$52,800/yr average · $25.38/hr

State Median

$53k

vs. National

$9k

Top 10%

$82k

COL-Adjusted

$59k

Where Tennessee Ranks

Tennessee ranks #30 nationally for electrician median wages. The national median is $61,590 (BLS OES May 2024). Tennessee pays $8,790 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 $58,667/yr in national-average dollar terms. The below-average cost of living means electricians here retain more purchasing power than the nominal wage suggests.

Pay by Metro Area

BLS OES May 2024 MSA-level data. Top 5 metropolitan areas in Tennessee.

Metro AreaMedian Annualvs. State Avg
Nashville Metro$58,400++5.6k
Memphis$52,800++0.0k
Knoxville$50,800-2.0k
Chattanooga$51,200-1.6k
Clarksville$48,800-4.0k

Pay by Experience Level

LevelHourlyAnnual
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

Licensing AuthorityTennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance - Board for Licensing Contractors (BLC). Electrical work at the trade level may also be regulated by individual municipalities.
Journeyman RequirementTennessee does not issue a statewide journeyman electrician license. Some municipalities (Memphis, Nashville-Davidson County) issue local journeyman cards requiring 4 years of OJT plus a local exam.
Master RequirementBC-A (Limited Energy) or LLE (Limited Licensed Electrician) Contractor license through the BLC. Contractor license is required for any electrical contract over $25,000. Requires demonstrated financial capacity, references, plus passing the BLC Trade and Business and Law exams.
Fee$250 application + $50-$100 per exam (BLC fee schedule 2026); local journeyman fees vary
ReciprocityLimited; Tennessee has bilateral agreements with selected states for contractor licenses only

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 share: approximately 9% of electricians in Tennessee are union.

Union electricians in Tennessee typically earn 20-35% more in total compensation than non-union electricians, when wages, health insurance, pension, and annuity are included.

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

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)Memphis Light, Gas and Water (MLGW)Nashville Electric ServiceBrasfield & Gorrie (electrical subs)Layne Electric / SPC Mechanical

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do electricians make in Tennessee?
Electricians in Tennessee earn $52,800/yr ($25.38/hr) on average per BLS OES May 2024. Apprentices start at around $33,600/yr. Top-earning master electricians and self-employed contractors can exceed $82,400/yr.
How does Tennessee rank for electrician pay?
Tennessee ranks #30 nationally for electrician median wages. After cost-of-living adjustment (MERIC index 90), the real purchasing power is $58,667/yr.
Do I need a license to work as an electrician in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not issue a statewide journeyman electrician license. Some municipalities (Memphis, Nashville-Davidson County) issue local journeyman cards requiring 4 years of OJT plus a local exam.. For master level: BC-A (Limited Energy) or LLE (Limited Licensed Electrician) Contractor license through the BLC. Contractor license is required for any electrical contract over $25,000. Requires demonstrated financial capacity, references, plus passing the BLC Trade and Business and Law exams..
Are union electricians better paid in Tennessee?
Yes. IBEW Local 429 (Nashville - state's largest), Local 474 (Memphis), Local 760 (Knoxville), Local 175 (Chattanooga) operate in Tennessee, with approximately 9% of electricians in Tennessee are union. Union electricians earn 20-35% more in total compensation when wages, health insurance, pension, and annuity are included.
What is the job outlook for electricians 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.

Related Pages

All StatesLicensing RequirementsJourneyman SalaryMaster Electrician SalaryUnion vs Non-Union

Source: BLS OES May 2024 (47-2111), MERIC 2026 COL Index, IBEW local agreements 2025-2026.

Updated 2026-04-27