How to Become a Electrical Engineer in Tennessee: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median electrical engineer salary in Tennessee is $104,450 per year - 13% below the national median of $120,630 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electrical engineering.
How to Become a Electrical Engineer in Tennessee
1. Earn an ABET-accredited bachelor’s
Electrical engineering or electrical engineering technology.
2. Pass the FE exam
The EIT credential starts the clock toward PE licensure.
3. Start in power, electronics, or controls
Utilities, manufacturers, and engineering firms hire at the bachelor’s level.
4. Gain experience toward the PE
Four years under licensed engineers for power and utility sign-off roles.
5. Specialize
Power systems, renewable energy, embedded systems, or controls/automation.
Requirements in Tennessee
The education path is national - ABET-accredited bachelor’s in electrical engineering - while licensing runs through the Tennessee state board of professional engineers: PE license required for power/utility sign-off roles. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Electrical Engineer Salary in Tennessee
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee entry level (10th percentile) | $73,850 |
| Tennessee 25th-75th percentile | $84,220 - $132,050 |
| Tennessee median | $104,450 |
| Tennessee top earners (90th percentile) | $166,210 |
| U.S. median | $120,630 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 2,830.
The Tennessee Job Market: Electrical Engineer
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Tennessee | 2,830 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 0.86 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.68 |
| Mean annual wage in Tennessee | $114,680 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.68, Tennessee employs electrical engineers at a lower concentration than the national average; expect fewer openings per capita and weigh relocation or remote-friendly specialties.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $76,550 |
| 25th | $92,830 |
| 50th (median) | $120,630 |
| 75th | $152,950 |
| 90th | $184,300 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 192,000 |
| 2034 projected | 205,700 |
| Percent change | +7.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for electrical engineers in Tennessee is $104,450 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 13% below the national median of $120,630.
How to become a electrical engineer in Tennessee?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited bachelor's in electrical engineering - with licensing through the Tennessee state board of professional engineers: PE license required for power/utility sign-off roles. See the steps on this page.
How many electrical engineers work in Tennessee?
BLS counts about 2,830 electrical engineers employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Electrical Engineer in Nearby States
- Electrical Engineer in South Carolina
- Electrical Engineer in South Dakota
- Electrical Engineer in Texas
- Electrical Engineer in Utah
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Electrical Engineers (SOC 17-2071), Tennessee and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |