Electricians
$29.37/hr ($61,090/yr) · typical $23.26 to $36.57
Openings: 2,330/yrApprentices: 2,485
Tennessee trade pay
Tennessee trade pay runs from $17.80/hr for landscapers to $29.37/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians earn the most at $29.37/hr ($61,090/yr). The state expects about 17,020 trade openings a year from 2024 to 2034, and the DOL counted 4,394 active apprentices in FY2024.
Top trade median
$29.37/hr
Electricians
Trades published
10 of 10
BLS OEWS May 2025
Openings per year
17,020
2024 to 2034
Active apprentices
4,394
FY2024
State signals
What stands out in Tennessee
Every tracked trade pays below its national median in Tennessee; auto technicians come closest, at 1% below the national $24.34/hr.
Maintenance workers lead Tennessee hiring demand with about 4,040 openings a year, 24% of the 17,020 annual trade openings projected statewide.
Tennessee ranks #14 nationally for active electricians apprentices, with 2,485 in FY2024.
All 10 trades in Tennessee
Statewide medians from BLS OEWS May 2025, ranked by median hourly pay. Each row opens the national trade hub.
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters
$28.17/hr ($58,600/yr) · typical $22.72 to $35.32
Openings: 1,110/yrApprentices: 1,055
HVAC Technicians
$26.68/hr ($55,490/yr) · typical $22.59 to $31.53
Openings: 1,210/yrApprentices: 111
Carpenters
$24.44/hr ($50,830/yr) · typical $22.36 to $28.80
Openings: 1,210/yrApprentices: 528
Automotive Service Technicians
$24.18/hr ($50,290/yr) · typical $18.41 to $30.67
Openings: 1,880/yrApprentices: 56
Welders
$23.10/hr ($48,040/yr) · typical $20.00 to $27.62
Openings: 1,550/yrApprentices: 6
Maintenance & Repair Workers
$22.71/hr ($47,240/yr) · typical $18.39 to $28.38
Openings: 4,040/yrApprentices: 113
Roofers
$21.97/hr ($45,690/yr) · typical $18.33 to $23.53
Openings: 250/yrApprentices: 4
Painters (Construction & Maintenance)
$20.78/hr ($43,230/yr) · typical $17.96 to $23.03
Openings: 460/yrApprentices: 35
Landscaping & Groundskeeping Workers
$17.80/hr ($37,020/yr) · typical $16.75 to $20.98
Openings: 2,980/yrApprentices: 1
Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025. Openings: Projections Central, 2024-2034 average annual openings. Apprentices: DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024 active apprentices; trades the DOL did not publish show n/a.
Apprenticeship pipeline
Registered apprentices in Tennessee
4,394 active apprentices across all 10 trades, per DOL Registered Apprenticeship, FY2024. Top trades:
Electricians2,485
Plumbers, Pipefitters & Steamfitters1,055
Carpenters528
Maintenance & Repair Workers113
HVAC Technicians111
Active apprentices, not new entrants. Find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
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Tennessee trade pay questions
How much do trades workers make in Tennessee?
Median pay for the 10 tracked trades in Tennessee ranges from $17.80/hr for landscapers to $29.37/hr for electricians, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Electricians top the ranking at $29.37/hr, equal to $61,090/yr for full-time work. These are statewide medians; pay varies by city and experience.
Which trade pays the most in Tennessee?
Electricians lead Tennessee at a median $29.37/hr ($61,090/yr a year), ahead of plumbers at $28.17/hr. The full ranking below covers all 10 tracked trades from BLS OEWS May 2025 statewide data. Union scale, shift differentials, and overtime can push actual take-home above these medians.
How many trade job openings are there in Tennessee?
Projections Central expects about 17,020 trade openings a year in Tennessee from 2024 to 2034, across the 10 tracked trades. Maintenance workers lead with about 4,040 a year, followed by landscapers at 2,980. Most openings come from retirements and turnover, not new job growth.
How do I start an apprenticeship in Tennessee?
Start with a registered apprenticeship: paid on-the-job training plus classroom instruction, with wages rising as you learn. The DOL counted 4,394 active trade apprentices in Tennessee in FY2024, including 2,485 electricians. Programs run three to five years; find open programs at Apprenticeship.gov.
Which Tennessee cities pay trades workers the most?
None of the 25 tracked metros are in Tennessee, so city-level pay rankings are not published here. The statewide medians above blend every metro and rural area in Tennessee together into one statewide figure. Metro pay pages cover 18 states; Tennessee figures are statewide only.