Electricians Make Good Money in Tennessee: Here's the Real Scoop

If you’re wondering whether electricians rake in solid cash in Tennessee, you’re not alone. People look around at their friends working office jobs and wonder if all that time spent on the tools is really worth it. Tennessee isn’t California or New York, so it’s fair to wonder what the numbers actually look like here.

Turns out, the pay for electricians in Tennessee might surprise you—in a good way. Compared to a lot of states, the cost of living here is lower, but the paychecks still hold up pretty well. If you’ve got the right training and a bit of hustle, you can definitely make a living that pays the bills and then some. And electricians aren’t stuck behind a desk all day, either, so if you like to work with your hands and solve real problems, this job checks a lot of boxes.

• How Much Do Electricians Actually Earn in Tennessee?
• What Influences an Electrician's Pay?
• How to Get Licensed and Start Earning
• Tips to Earn More as an Electrician in Tennessee

How Much Do Electricians Actually Earn in Tennessee?

Let’s cut right to the chase: if you’re looking to become an electrician in Tennessee, you want real numbers. In 2024, the average electrician salary in Tennessee sits between $48,000 and $60,000 per year, depending on your skills, experience, and where you work. For people new to the trade, entry-level wages are usually around $18 to $22 an hour. Once you get licensed and rack up a few years, it’s common to see $25 to $32 an hour, with some master electricians making more.

The cool thing about working as an electrician in Tennessee is your paycheck tends to go further. Housing, groceries, gas—all those basics cost less here than in a lot of states. A $55,000 salary gives you more breathing room than you’d get in places like Florida or the northeast, hands down.

Check this out—here’s what the actual pay looks like for different levels of electricians around Tennessee:

These numbers come from real job postings and recent state wage reports for electrician salary Tennessee. Some union gigs and bigger companies in cities like Nashville or Knoxville pay above these averages. Plus, there’s plenty of overtime and side work if you want to pad your income.

One last kicker—electricians working for themselves as contractors or running their own shops? Some clear six figures after expenses if they hustle, especially with commercial clients. So there’s a path to really good money in this trade if you level up your skills and know where to look for the best opportunities.

What Influences an Electrician's Pay?

So, what actually makes one electrician salary Tennessee bigger than another? The answer isn’t just about how many years you’ve been working—though, sure, experience matters. Let’s break it down so you know what dials really move the needle.

• Experience and Licensing: Starting out as an apprentice, you’re looking at the lower end of the pay scale. As you rack up hours and get your journeyman or master license, your hourly wage jumps. In Tennessee, a licensed master electrician can make over 30% more than a newbie.
• Location: Electricians in big cities like Nashville or Memphis usually make more than folks working in smaller towns. Why? More demand, bigger projects, and higher costs to match.
• Type of Work: Industrial jobs tend to pay more than basic residential gigs. If you’re handling complex stuff, like automation or big commercial builds, your paycheck reflects that.
• Certifications and Special Skills: Have a certification for solar energy or advanced automation? You’ll stand out and probably get better offers. Tennessee’s seen a spike in solar installations recently, so having that specialty is a real bonus.
• Who You Work For: Union jobs and bigger contractors usually mean better pay and benefits, compared to small shops or going solo just starting out.

Here’s a quick look at average pay based on role in Tennessee, according to the latest numbers:

If you’re willing to travel for work or take on after-hours emergency jobs, you can boost those numbers even more. Some electricians pull in extra cash by picking up side gigs or weekend work—especially during storm season when everyone’s calling for urgent repairs.

How to Get Licensed and Start Earning

So, you want to start making real money as an electrician in Tennessee? First things first—you’ve got to get licensed. You can’t just show up with a toolbox and say you’re an electrician. There’s a process, and the good news is, it’s pretty straightforward if you take it step by step.

In Tennessee, most folks start as apprentices. Basically, you work under an experienced electrician, learning the ropes on real jobs. The usual path looks like this:

1. Find an Apprenticeship: This is where you get hands-on with wiring, troubleshooting, and running conduit. Many technical schools and community colleges across Tennessee, like Nashville State or TCAT, even help set it up.
2. Meet the Hour Requirements: You’ll need at least 8,000 hours of experience, plus about 576 hours in the classroom. That’s around 4 years, but you’re getting paid the whole time—not just learning for free.
3. Apply for the Exam: When you’ve got your hours, you can sit for the Tennessee journeyman exam. That’s what proves you know the National Electric Code (NEC), state rules, and how not to get zapped.
4. Pass the Exam: Nail this test, and you’re officially a journeyman electrician. Now you can pull permits, work for yourself, or even start your own crew.

Want a tip? Don’t skimp on those study hours. The NEC is basically the electrician’s Bible, and most people who pass the first time say they spent plenty of nights with the codebook.

Here’s what the licensing steps might look like in practice:

If you’re thinking it sounds tough, remember a lot of jobs want four years of college and leave you with debt. Here, you earn while you learn, which is hard to beat.

If you want proof this process works, here’s what the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance says:

"Licensed electricians in Tennessee enjoy a steady demand, high safety standards, and clear pathways to advancement."

So if you’ve got the work ethic, this trade is wide open. Get that license, and you’ll find your earning power grows fast.

Tips to Earn More as an Electrician in Tennessee

Want to crank up your paycheck as an electrician in Tennessee? It’s all about how you play your cards. Just getting licensed is step one, but leveling up from there opens doors to better jobs and fatter paychecks.

First off—experience matters. Journeyman and master electricians earn way more than newbies. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the average wage for a licensed Tennessee electrician at about $28 an hour as of last year, but those with specialty skills or more years on the job often clear $35 an hour. Some pull in more than $80,000 a year if they land regular overtime or big contracts.

Ready to fast-track your earnings? Here’s what actually works:

• Double down on certifications: Learning extra skills—like solar panel installation, control systems, or high-voltage systems—means you can tackle higher-paying jobs. There’s good money in niches like industrial electrical work and automation.
• Start your own gig: Self-employed electricians in Tennessee set their own rates. Sure, it's more responsibility, but folks report bringing home up to $120,000 a year with the right connections and work ethic.
• Join a union: Union members usually snag better pay, real benefits, and steadier work. Local 429 in Nashville reports their journeyman electricians often make more per hour than non-union contractors.
• Pick booming cities: There’s more demand (and better pay) in places like Nashville, Knoxville, and Chattanooga, where construction and tech are taking off. Pay jumps fast if you’re willing to travel a bit wider for big projects.
• Keep learning: Codes and technologies change fast. Taking short, affordable courses to keep your license fresh or add new tricks pays off—literally.

Check out this breakdown of electrician salaries in Tennessee by experience (2024 BLS data):

Shop owner Marcus Bailey puts it best:

"The guys who make the most aren’t just good with wires—they know how to talk to people, pick up new skills, and chase bigger jobs. Don’t stop learning."

Bottom line? If you want to make good money as an electrician in Tennessee, keep sharpening those skills, look for better gigs, and don’t be scared to think big.