Skilled trades in Tennessee, ranked by pay
Of the 5 trades tracked here, the best paid in Tennessee is electricians at a median $61,090 a year. Across all 5, 113,480 people are employed in Tennessee. Each row links to the full wage spread for that trade in the state.
| # | Trade | Median annual | Median hourly | 10th–90th | Employed | vs US | State rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electricians | $61,090 | $29.37 | $39,600 – $92,160 | 17,070 | 3% below | #37 of 51 |
| 2 | Truck drivers (CDL) | $58,620 | $28.18 | $39,960 – $83,280 | 64,890 | about the same as | #28 of 51 |
| 3 | Plumbers and pipefitters | $58,600 | $28.17 | $38,520 – $82,020 | 9,270 | 8% below | #41 of 51 |
| 4 | HVAC technicians | $55,490 | $26.68 | $38,540 – $81,590 | 9,740 | 9% below | #45 of 51 |
| 5 | Welders | $48,040 | $23.10 | $37,840 – $64,200 | 12,510 | 11% below | #50 of 51 |
"State rank" is where Tennessee places among the 50 states and DC on median pay for that trade — a low number means the state pays well for it. "vs US" compares the Tennessee median with the national median for the same trade.
Which of these to consider in Tennessee
Pay is one input, not the answer. A trade that pays a little less but employs far more people in Tennessee can be the easier one to get hired and stay hired in. Weigh the median against the employment column, and against the training time and licensing each trade demands — the parts this page will carry next, once each state's board data is sourced. For now, open a trade to see its full percentile spread and how Tennessee ranks against every other state.
Full detail by trade
Electricians in Tennessee · Truck drivers (CDL) in Tennessee · Plumbers and pipefitters in Tennessee · HVAC technicians in Tennessee · Welders in Tennessee
Or compare these trades nationally on the trade ranking, or pick another state from the state list.
Licensing requirements, apprenticeship programs, training cost and time-to-journeyman in Tennessee are being collected from state sources and will appear on this page once sourced and cited. The pay and employment figures here are the May 2025 BLS estimates; see how the numbers are built.