Highest-paying trades in Tennessee
Updated September 27, 2026
Elevator and escalator installers and repairers are the highest-paying skilled trade in Tennessee, with a median of $100,490 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. 55 of the 79 trades ranked here pay more than the $47,380 median for all jobs in Tennessee.
All 79 trades by median pay in Tennessee
| # | Trade | Median a year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Elevator and escalator installers and repairers700 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $100,490$48.31/hr |
| 2 | Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay430 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $96,840$46.56/hr |
| 3 | Electrical power-line installers and repairers3,900 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $83,660$40.22/hr |
| 4 | Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other1,150 jobs · +19% vs U.S. | $82,090$39.47/hr |
| 5 | Aircraft mechanics and service technicians4,670 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $81,040$38.96/hr |
| 6 | Signal and track switch repairers190 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $79,730$38.33/hr |
| 7 | Carpet installers50 jobs · +48% vs U.S. | $74,510$35.82/hr |
| 8 | Rail-Track laying and maintenance equipment operators260 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $66,390$31.92/hr |
| 9 | Industrial machinery mechanics12,850 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $65,010$31.26/hr |
| 10 | Maintenance workers, machinery800 jobs · +6% vs U.S. | $64,790$31.15/hr |
| 11 | Brickmasons and blockmasons1,050 jobs · +3% vs U.S. | $63,850$30.70/hr |
| 12 | Telecommunications line installers and repairers2,620 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $63,510$30.53/hr |
| 13 | Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines2,600 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $61,880$29.75/hr |
| 14 | Millwrights1,060 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $61,810$29.72/hr |
| 15 | Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment1,700 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $61,560$29.60/hr |
| 16 | Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers2,480 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $61,220$29.43/hr |
| 17 | Electricians17,070 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $61,090$29.37/hr |
| 18 | Avionics technicians480 jobs · −26% vs U.S. | $60,820$29.24/hr |
| 19 | Hazardous materials removal workers570 jobs · +22% vs U.S. | $60,090$28.89/hr |
| 20 | Rail car repairers320 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $60,090$28.89/hr |
| 21 | Construction and building inspectors2,500 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $59,870$28.79/hr |
| 22 | Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists5,720 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,190$28.46/hr |
| 23 | Sheet metal workers1,850 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $59,170$28.45/hr |
| 24 | Musical instrument repairers and tuners300 jobs · +27% vs U.S. | $58,730$28.24/hr |
| 25 | Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters9,270 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $58,600$28.17/hr |
| 26 | Recreational vehicle service technicians430 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $58,440$28.10/hr |
| 27 | Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment340 jobs · −31% vs U.S. | $58,250$28.01/hr |
| 28 | Reinforcing iron and rebar workers500 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $57,920$27.84/hr |
| 29 | Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door670 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $57,010$27.41/hr |
| 30 | Structural iron and steel workers1,240 jobs · −10% vs U.S. | $56,750$27.29/hr |
| 31 | Heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers9,740 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $55,490$26.68/hr |
| 32 | Pile driver operators30 jobs · −25% vs U.S. | $54,830$26.36/hr |
| 33 | Coin, vending, and amusement machine servicers and repairers160 jobs · +12% vs U.S. | $53,270$25.61/hr |
| 34 | Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators10,660 jobs · −13% vs U.S. | $52,000$25.00/hr |
| 35 | Boilermakers180 jobs · −32% vs U.S. | $51,810$24.91/hr |
| 36 | Mechanical door repairers370 jobs · −7% vs U.S. | $51,790$24.90/hr |
| 37 | Security and fire alarm systems installers2,520 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $51,460$24.74/hr |
| 38 | Carpenters8,200 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $50,830$24.44/hr |
| 39 | Automotive service technicians and mechanics16,210 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $50,290$24.18/hr |
| 40 | Locksmiths and safe repairers340 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $50,250$24.16/hr |
| 41 | Floor layers, except carpet, wood, and hard tiles200 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $49,900$23.99/hr |
| 42 | Home appliance repairers690 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $49,580$23.84/hr |
| 43 | Electronic equipment installers and repairers, motor vehicles210 jobs · +1% vs U.S. | $49,140$23.63/hr |
| 44 | Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairers330 jobs · −23% vs U.S. | $49,140$23.62/hr |
| 45 | Motorboat mechanics and service technicians200 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $49,120$23.62/hr |
| 46 | Glaziers880 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $48,610$23.37/hr |
| 47 | Medical equipment repairers1,400 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $48,530$23.33/hr |
| 48 | Insulation workers, floor, ceiling, and wall1,160 jobs · −1% vs U.S. | $48,410$23.28/hr |
| 49 | Installation, maintenance, and repair workers, all other3,730 jobs · −2% vs U.S. | $48,200$23.17/hr |
| 50 | Welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers12,510 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $48,040$23.10/hr |
| 51 | Audiovisual equipment installers and repairers400 jobs · −9% vs U.S. | $48,010$23.08/hr |
| 52 | Cement masons and concrete finishers3,920 jobs · −16% vs U.S. | $47,910$23.04/hr |
| 53 | Farm equipment mechanics and service technicians1,030 jobs · −15% vs U.S. | $47,830$23.00/hr |
| 54 | Drywall and ceiling tile installers1,150 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $47,510$22.84/hr |
| 55 | Automotive body and related repairers3,970 jobs · −14% vs U.S. | $47,460$22.82/hr |
| 56 | Motorcycle mechanics320 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $47,300$22.74/hr |
| 57 | Maintenance and repair workers, general35,790 jobs · −5% vs U.S. | $47,240$22.71/hr |
| 58 | Riggers310 jobs · −25% vs U.S. | $47,180$22.68/hr |
| 59 | Stonemasons140 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $46,830$22.51/hr |
| 60 | Insulation workers, mechanical670 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $46,380$22.30/hr |
| 61 | Highway maintenance workers2,280 jobs · −8% vs U.S. | $46,070$22.15/hr |
| 62 | Outdoor power equipment and other small engine mechanics1,200 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $46,060$22.15/hr |
| 63 | Pipelayers810 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $46,020$22.12/hr |
| 64 | Paperhangers40 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $46,010$22.12/hr |
| 65 | Manufactured building and mobile home installers90 jobs · 0% vs U.S. | $45,990$22.11/hr |
| 66 | Roofers2,110 jobs · −18% vs U.S. | $45,690$21.97/hr |
| 67 | Fence erectors550 jobs · −6% vs U.S. | $45,330$21.79/hr |
| 68 | Construction laborers26,250 jobs · −4% vs U.S. | $45,000$21.64/hr |
| 69 | Camera and photographic equipment repairers−15% vs U.S. | $44,940$21.61/hr |
| 70 | Tile and stone setters350 jobs · −22% vs U.S. | $43,570$20.95/hr |
| 71 | Painters, construction and maintenance3,040 jobs · −12% vs U.S. | $43,230$20.78/hr |
| 72 | Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators1,730 jobs · −20% vs U.S. | $42,510$20.44/hr |
| 73 | Computer, automated teller, and office machine repairers1,110 jobs · −11% vs U.S. | $42,330$20.35/hr |
| 74 | Miscellaneous construction and related workers440 jobs · −17% vs U.S. | $41,600$20.00/hr |
| 75 | Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners550 jobs · −21% vs U.S. | $39,480$18.98/hr |
| 76 | Automotive glass installers and repairers270 jobs · −19% vs U.S. | $38,420$18.47/hr |
| 77 | Tire repairers and changers2,770 jobs · −3% vs U.S. | $36,680$17.63/hr |
| 78 | Electric motor, power tool, and related repairers−36% vs U.S. | $36,240$17.42/hr |
| 79 | Bicycle repairers−19% vs U.S. | $34,640$16.66/hr |
Linked trades have full Tennessee pay pages, with pay in each metro area. See also: highest-paying trades in the U.S.
How we ranked them
Ranked by median annual wage in Tennessee, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics state estimates, May 2025. “vs U.S.” compares each trade with its own national median. Which occupations count as trades: Construction occupations and installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (BLS major groups 47 and 49), plus welders, excluding first-line supervisors, helpers, and mining and oil-and-gas extraction occupations. BLS doesn't publish a Tennessee median for 9 of the 88 trades in the national ranking, usually because too few people do that work there to estimate; they're left out. Wages exclude self-employed workers. Methodology
Questions
- What is the highest-paying trade in Tennessee?
- Elevator and escalator installers and repairers, with a median of $100,490 a year ($48.31 an hour) in Tennessee, per May 2025 BLS data.
- Which trades pay over $100,000 in Tennessee?
- One trade has a median of $100,000 or more in Tennessee: elevator and escalator installers and repairers ($100,490).
- How many trades pay more than the typical job in Tennessee?
- 55 of the 79 trades ranked here have a median above $47,380, the median for all occupations in Tennessee.
- Do trades pay more in Tennessee than in the rest of the U.S.?
- 11 of the 79 trades have a higher median in Tennessee than nationally. The biggest gap is carpet installers: $74,510, 48% above the U.S. median of $50,340.
- Which trade employs the most people in Tennessee?
- Maintenance and repair workers, general, with about 35,790 jobs and a median of $47,240 a year.