Highest-Paying Trade in Tennessee (2025): What Really Pays the Most?

16Sep

You want the straight answer: which trade pays the most in Tennessee right now-and how do you break in without losing years to school? Short version: elevator installers/repairers top the charts most years in TN, with lineworkers (power-line installers), power-plant operators, and some traveling rig welders/boilermakers close behind. But the big money hinges on overtime, union rates, travel, and whether you work industrial or residential. I’ll show exact ranges, training time, licensing paths, and a simple decision tree so you can pick the best fit-not just the highest number.

Quick Answer: Highest-Paying Trades in Tennessee (2025)

Here’s the headline you came for. Based on the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) state data released in 2024, plus Tennessee licensing and apprenticeship norms in 2025, the highest paying trade in TN is typically elevator installer and repairer (often called elevator mechanic). In practice, top earnings also show up among power-line installers (journeyman lineworkers), power-plant operators (especially TVA), and traveling boilermakers/welders on shutdowns and outages.

Typical Tennessee pay bands you’ll actually see on checks (base + common overtime):

• Elevator installer/repairer: about $85,000-$120,000+ total comp; seasoned union mechanics with steady OT can land six figures.
• Electrical power-line installer/repairer (lineman): roughly $75,000-$105,000; storm work and per diem can push higher.
• Power-plant operator (fossil/nuclear/hydro): about $80,000-$110,000; fewer openings, heavier screening.
• Boilermaker/traveling rig welder: $70,000-$110,000; very variable-big spikes with travel and outages.
• Electrician (industrial or construction): $58,000-$90,000; top earners crack $100k with OT.
• Plumber/pipefitter: $60,000-$95,000; service work and on-call boost totals.
• HVAC/R tech: $48,000-$85,000; commercial/industrial and controls work pay more.

Why elevator mechanics usually win in TN: a scarce, high-skill craft with strict safety standards, extensive apprenticeship training (about five years), and steady urban demand (Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville). It’s also strongly unionized in many markets, which props up wages and benefits.

Reality check: pay moves with overtime, night/weekend premiums, union scale, and travel. Nashville and surrounding counties tend to post higher rates than rural areas. If you want the highest upside fast, chase union apprenticeship programs, industrial work, or traveling outage seasons.

How to Get Into the Top-Paying Trade (Training, Licensing, Costs)

If elevator mechanic is the top earner in Tennessee most years, what does it take-and what are the realistic timelines and costs compared to other trades?

Elevator installer/repairer (mechanic) in Tennessee:

1. Meet basics: 18+, high school diploma or GED, valid driver’s license. Algebra helps and is often required.
2. Apply for apprenticeship: Most mechanics come through the National Elevator Industry Educational Program (NEIEP) and the International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC). Intake cycles run periodically-watch the application windows.
3. Testing and selection: Expect an aptitude test (math/reading/mechanical reasoning), interview, drug screen, and background check.
4. Earn while you learn: The apprenticeship runs ~5 years. You’re a paid employee from day one. Wage steps rise every 6-12 months as you hit training milestones.
5. State licensing: Tennessee regulates elevators through the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development (Elevator Unit). After apprenticeship experience and examinations, you obtain your mechanic license and keep up with continuing education.

Costs: Minimal compared to college. Apprenticeships pay you. You’ll need basic tools and PPE. Classroom instruction is typically covered by the program or employer.

Time to first solid paycheck: immediately. Time to top scale: about five years, then increases tied to contract renewals and seniority.

Not sure elevator work fits? Use this quick-fit checklist for the top earners in TN:

• Heights and harnesses okay? Consider lineworker or iron/rig work.
• Electro-mechanical gear and precision? Elevator mechanic or industrial electrician.
• Shift work is fine, but you want plant stability? Power-plant operator.
• Like troubleshooting in homes and small businesses? Plumber or HVAC/R service.
• Don’t mind travel and heavy shutdown schedules? Boilermaker/welder.

Licensing in Tennessee-what to know before you sign anything:

• Electricians: Tennessee issues the Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) credential, and the Board for Licensing Contractors handles Electrical Contractor licensing for projects of $25,000+.
• Plumbers: There’s a Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) card; larger-scope contractor licensing flows through the Board for Licensing Contractors.
• HVAC/Mechanical: Mechanical contractor licensing is required for bigger jobs; local jurisdictions may also require permits and tests.
• Elevator mechanics: Licensed through the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development’s Elevator Unit.
• Lineworkers: No statewide “lineman license.” Employers and utilities set standards (apprenticeship graduation, commercial driver’s license, pole-top rescue, OSHA).

Training routes you can start this month in TN:

• Union apprenticeships: IUEC (elevators), IBEW/NECA (electricians/line clearance or utility partnerships), UA (plumbers/pipefitters), Sheet Metal, Boilermakers, Ironworkers. Apprentices are employees with wage steps and benefits.
• TCAT programs: Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology offer short, job-focused training (Electrical Systems, Industrial Maintenance, HVAC/R, Welding, Diesel). Many grads place into apprenticeships faster.
• Community colleges: Mechatronics, industrial maintenance, instrumentation-good for higher wage ceilings in manufacturing and power.

Financial help (Tennessee-specific):

• Tennessee Promise: Last-dollar scholarship for recent high school grads attending community college or TCAT.
• Tennessee Reconnect: Tuition help for adults returning to earn a credential.
• WIOA funding: Workforce grants for high-demand occupations-ask your local American Job Center.
• GI Bill: Many apprenticeships and TCAT programs are approved. Veterans often stack GI Bill housing stipends on top of apprentice wages.

Pitfalls to avoid:

• Pay-to-play “apprenticeships” that don’t hire you as an employee-real apprenticeships pay you from day one.
• Schools that skip employer connections-ask for employer lists and 6-month job placement rates.
• Licensing surprises-verify your trade needs state or local licensing and who issues it.
• Tool debt-start with essentials; buy expensive specialty tools after your probation.

Quick vetting checklist (30 minutes):

• Call a union hall or two and ask: when’s your next apprenticeship intake? what’s apprentice start pay? how many hours last year?
• Ask two local contractors: average weekly hours, OT, and whether they reimburse tuition or certifications.
• Check state licensing pages for your trade’s exact requirements and exam providers.

Compare the Best-Paying Trades in TN (Pay, Training Time, Demand)

These are realistic, 2025-ready ranges for Tennessee based on BLS state data (May 2024 release), utility/union scales, and common OT patterns. Your exact numbers swing with city, union status, travel, and shift premiums.

Where these numbers come from: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024), Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors rules, Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development guidance, union wage sheets where available, and common OT patterns shared by Tennessee employers.

Heuristics to choose a high-paying path fast:

• If you want the highest ceiling with low upfront cost: apply for elevator or lineworker apprenticeships first.
• If you want stability and benefits with fewer layoffs: target utility or industrial plants (power, chemicals, large manufacturing).
• If you want freedom to move and chase big checks: go traveling boilermaker/welder or storm-response linework.
• If you prefer residential/customer work: plumbing and HVAC service offer strong earnings with steady calls.

Decision tree (60 seconds):

• Comfortable with heights and storms? → Lineman. Not so much? → Elevator or industrial electrician.
• Like precision mechanical systems and safety rules? → Elevator mechanic.
• Want plant environment and rotating shifts? → Power-plant operator.
• Want your own truck and customer tips? → Plumber/HVAC.
• Okay living out of a suitcase during outages? → Boilermaker/welder.

My quick take as a working writer who lives on data (and walks a very nosey dog named Bella): in Tennessee, the best combination of pay, openings, and career growth for most people is electrician (industrial or construction) or plumber/pipefitter. Elevator mechanic and lineman often pay more at the top, but spots are fewer and the selection is stricter. If you can get into elevator or linework, go for it. If not, electrician/pipefitter gives you a reliable on-ramp to high earnings within two to three years.

FAQs, Next Steps, and Smart Moves

Short FAQ based on what people ask after they see the pay ranges.

What’s the single highest-paying trade job in TN this year?

Elevator installer/repairer is the typical winner for “highest single trade” in Tennessee, followed by lineworkers and power-plant operators. The exact #1 can flip in a given year depending on project mix and available overtime, but elevator mechanics usually hold the lead in metro areas.

How much do apprentices actually make?

Union apprentices often start near 40-60% of journeyman scale. In TN, that can mean $18-$28/hour to start in many trades, rising every 6-12 months. With overtime, first-year apprentices can clear $40k-$55k. By year three, $55k-$75k is common in high-demand shops.

Do I need a degree?

No. Apprenticeships are the standard route. For plant operator roles, a 2-year technical degree (mechatronics, process tech, instrumentation) helps, but many plants hire strong military/technical backgrounds without a degree.

Union or non-union for highest pay?

For most of TN’s top-earning trades, union paths (IUEC, IBEW, UA, Boilermakers) deliver higher base rates, better benefits, steadier training, and safer job sites. Non-union can still pay well, especially with lots of overtime or specialty skills, but you’ll negotiate on your own.

Which cities in TN pay best?

Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin leads for rates and openings. Memphis and Knoxville also pay well, especially for industrial work. Smaller regions pay less on base but sometimes offer cheaper housing and steadier hours.

How fast can I get to $80k?

Fastest paths: elevator or lineworker apprenticeship with steady overtime; traveling outage welder/boilermaker; or industrial electrician in a plant with night/weekend premiums. Many apprentices hit $80k by year 3-4 with OT.

I’m switching careers at 28/35/45. Is it too late?

No. Tennessee Reconnect makes school cheaper, and apprenticeships value maturity and reliability. If you can pass the physicals and background checks and show up on time, you’re competitive.

What about benefits?

Union trades often include full family healthcare, pensions, and annuity contributions. That’s equal to $10k-$25k of extra value per year on top of hourly pay. Always factor benefits when comparing offers.

Next steps based on your situation:

• High school senior or recent grad (TN Promise eligible): Apply to an elevator or electrical apprenticeship. If timing doesn’t line up, enroll in a TCAT Electrical Systems, Industrial Maintenance, or HVAC program to build math and hands-on hours, then reapply next intake.
• Career switcher (working adult, TN Reconnect eligible): Shortlist two trades. Call one union hall and one large contractor in each trade. Ask about apprentice openings in the next 90 days, day-one pay, and average weekly hours. Submit applications and line up a TCAT night course to strengthen your math and code knowledge.
• Veteran: Target utility, power generation, or industrial maintenance. Use GI Bill with a registered apprenticeship so you collect housing allowance plus wages. Your safety training and troubleshooting background will stand out.

Interview cheat-sheet (bring this):

• Two examples of you troubleshooting a mechanical or electrical problem (what you checked first, the measurements you took, what fixed it).
• One example of safe work under pressure (lockout/tagout, confined space, working aloft).
• Proof of reliability (attendance certificates, letters, clean driving record, CDL permit if you’ve got it).

How to read a job ad fast:

• Pay lines: Is it base only, or base + per diem/OT? If it says “$28/hr, 6x10s,” that’s $1,680/week before taxes, not counting per diem.
• Travel: Per diem + mileage are real money. If per diem is $100/day and you’re out 20 days/month, that’s ~$2,000 untaxed on top.
• Shift: Nights/weekends add premiums but hammer your sleep-plan recovery days.

Sources worth trusting when pay affects your decision: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (state tables), the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development (licensing and safety units), the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (scope and exams), Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (program length and placement), and official union apprenticeship programs (IUEC/NEIEP, IBEW/NECA, UA, etc.). When a claim sounds too good, call the source.

If you want a simple rule to remember while you compare offers: pick the trade that gets you into paid apprenticeship the fastest in your area, with a clear path to a journeyman card and steady overtime. In Tennessee right now, that’s the shortest route to a fat paycheck-and a career that won’t vanish when the next fad app does.