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Electrical Engineering Salary in Tennessee: Is It a Good Career?

Tennessee · 2026 BLS salary data

Electrical Engineering pay in Tennessee

The median wage is $104,450/yr — 13% below the national median. Among U.S. states, Tennesseeranks #38 of 49 states by median pay.

The numbers in Tennessee

Real BLS state-level figures for Electrical Engineering.

Median salary
$104,450/yr
Pay range (25th–75th)
$84,220 – $132,050
National median
$120,630/yr
Employed in Tennessee
2,830

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS), state estimates, May 2025 release.

What that pay is really worth in Tennessee

Salary alone can mislead — Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average. Here's the median adjusted for local prices (real purchasing power).

Cost of living (US=100)
91.9
Nominal median
$104,450
Adjusted for cost of living
≈ $113,656
State income tax
None

Because Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #29 of 49 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #38 on raw salary.

Tennessee levies no state income tax, so more of that pay stays in your pocket than in high-tax states.

Cost of living: BEA Regional Price Parities (all items, US=100), 2024. Adjusted pay = nominal median ÷ (RPP/100) — purchasing power vs the U.S. average. State income tax = top marginal rate on wage income (Tax Foundation, 2025); your effective rate is lower and depends on income and deductions.

FAQ

How much do electrical engineering professionals make in Tennessee?

The median annual wage is $104,450 (BLS OEWS, state estimates), with the middle 50% earning between $84,220 and $132,050. That's 13% below the national median.

Is Tennessee a good state for electrical engineering?

By raw pay, Tennessee ranks #38 of 49 states by median pay. Adjusted for cost of living (Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average), that median is worth about $113,656. Because Tennessee costs 8% less than the U.S. average, its pay stretches further — it ranks #29 of 49 once adjusted for cost of living, up from #38 on raw salary. And with no state income tax, more of that pay stays in your pocket.

Are electrical engineering professionals in demand in Tennessee?

About 2,830 people work in this field in Tennessee (BLS OEWS). Nationally, BLS projects +7.2% employment growth for this field from 2024 to 2034.

The verdict, pros, and cons below apply to Electrical Engineering nationally — Tennessee pay is 13% below the national median. See the full Electrical Engineering career guide →

The verdict

Yes — electrical engineering offers high pay from a bachelor's degree and demand riding the chip, energy, and electrification booms. It's one of the harder degrees, but the payoff and stability are excellent.

Pros & cons

Pros

  • High pay from a bachelor's degree
  • Demand from chips, energy, and electrification
  • Versatile across hardware, power, and embedded systems
  • Faster-than-average projected growth
  • Strong path into specialized, high-paying niches

Cons

  • One of the most rigorous, math-heavy degrees
  • Steep learning curve
  • Some roles require on-site or lab work
  • PE license needed for certain positions

Who it's for

✓ A good fit if…

  • Strong math students who like abstract systems
  • People wanting high pay from a bachelor's
  • Anyone drawn to electronics, power, or hardware

✗ Probably not if…

  • People who struggle with heavy math
  • Those wanting a low-effort degree

What people are actually asking

Real Reddit discussions on whether Electrical Engineering is worth it — titles link to the original threads.