Highest-Paying Trades in Tennessee 2026

50 skilled trades tracked in Tennessee metro areas. The top-paying trade is Construction Manager at $107,407 median salary. Data from BLS OEWS (2025).

#	Trade	Median Salary	Cities	Avg Score
1	Construction Manager	$107,407	1	83
2	Elevator Mechanic	$97,615	1	89
3	Electrical Power-Line Tech	$77,657	1	85
4	Power Line Installer	$75,751	1	85
5	Aircraft Mechanic	$71,509	1	68
6	Pile Driver Operator	$71,168	1	62
7	Underwater Welder	$69,305	1	62
8	Building Inspector	$69,225	1	61
9	Steamfitter	$68,679	1	66
10	Boilermaker	$68,011	1	57
11	Wind Turbine Technician	$65,729	1	91
12	Fire Sprinkler Fitter	$65,442	1	72
13	Electrician	$63,903	1	74
14	Crane Operator	$63,797	1	70
15	Telecommunications Tech	$63,377	1	69
16	Millwright	$62,057	1	65
17	Industrial Electrician	$60,454	1	72
18	Pipefitter	$59,996	1	67
19	Tool and Die Maker	$59,724	1	48
20	HVAC Technician	$56,859	1	75
21	Diesel Mechanic	$56,573	1	60
22	Plumber	$55,467	1	69
23	Heavy Equipment Operator	$54,513	1	59
24	Industrial Machinery Mechanic	$54,464	1	65
25	Carpenter	$53,910	1	53
26	Mason (Bricklayer)	$53,683	1	49
27	Ironworker	$53,348	1	58
28	Structural Welder	$53,129	1	57
29	Refrigeration Mechanic	$51,608	1	66
30	Sheet Metal Worker	$51,094	1	54
31	Plasterer	$49,224	1	42
32	Auto Mechanic	$49,108	1	46
33	Insulation Worker	$48,984	1	55
34	Roofer	$48,789	1	50
35	Locksmith	$48,308	1	43
36	Machinist	$47,887	1	49
37	Tile Setter	$47,557	1	45
38	Drywall Installer	$47,487	1	44
39	Well Driller	$47,320	1	45
40	Environmental Engineering Tech	$46,774	1	59
41	Floor Layer	$46,227	1	45
42	Concrete Finisher	$45,624	1	50
43	Welder	$45,564	1	53
44	Septic Tank Servicer	$45,530	1	44
45	Maintenance Mechanic	$45,427	1	52
46	Glazier	$44,823	1	49
47	Solar PV Installer	$43,848	1	76
48	Painter (Construction)	$41,831	1	39
49	Scaffold Builder	$41,796	1	43
50	CNC Machine Operator	$41,302	1	41

Skilled trade wage data for Tennessee is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program.
— BLS OEWS (2025)

Frequently Asked Questions

Construction Manager is the highest-paying skilled trade in Tennessee with a median salary of $107,407 across 1 metro areas.

We track 50 skilled trades across metro areas in Tennessee using Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data.

The Trade Pay Score (0-100, A-F) rates each trade-city combination on median wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year wage growth (25%), job demand (25%), and cost-of-living adjusted pay (20%).

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS

Trades ranked by median salary across metro areas in the state. Trade Pay Score: wage vs. household income (30%), 5-year growth (25%), job demand (25%), COL-adjusted pay (20%).

Best-Paying Trades Nationwide →All Trade Data for Tennessee →