How to Become a Engineering Manager in Tennessee: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median engineering manager salary in Tennessee is $161,430 per year - 6% below the national median of $171,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s + experience; often an MBA or MEM.
How to Become a Engineering Manager in Tennessee
1. Work as an engineer first
Any of the engineering paths on this site - the bachelor’s plus several years of practice.
2. Take technical lead roles
Leading designs and mentoring juniors is the proving ground.
3. Add the management layer
An online MEM or MBA, or internal leadership development programs.
4. Hold the PE where required
Firms sealing engineering work generally require licensed managers.
5. Advance
Department head, director of engineering, VP of engineering.
Requirements in Tennessee
The education path is national - ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s + experience; often an MBA or MEM - while licensing runs through the Tennessee state board of professional engineers: PE license commonly required for firms sealing work. Verify current requirements with the Tennessee state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Engineering Manager Salary in Tennessee
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| Tennessee entry level (10th percentile) | $105,980 |
| Tennessee 25th-75th percentile | $130,170 - $193,380 |
| Tennessee median | $161,430 |
| Tennessee top earners (90th percentile) | $239,240 |
| U.S. median | $171,270 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 3,600.
The Tennessee Job Market: Engineering Manager
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in Tennessee | 3,600 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 1.10 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 0.77 |
| Mean annual wage in Tennessee | $167,280 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 0.77, Tennessee employs architectural and engineering managers 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 | $120,810 |
| 25th | $139,360 |
| 50th (median) | $171,270 |
| 75th | $212,500 |
| 90th | $262,760 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 212,500 |
| 2034 projected | 220,500 |
| Percent change | +3.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a engineering manager make in Tennessee?
The median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers in Tennessee is $161,430 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 6% below the national median of $171,270.
How to become a engineering manager in Tennessee?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's + experience; often an MBA or MEM - with licensing through the Tennessee state board of professional engineers: PE license commonly required for firms sealing work. See the steps on this page.
How many architectural and engineering managers work in Tennessee?
BLS counts about 3,600 architectural and engineering managers employed in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Engineering Manager in Nearby States
- Engineering Manager in South Carolina
- Engineering Manager in South Dakota
- Engineering Manager in Texas
- Engineering Manager in Utah
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Architectural and Engineering Managers (SOC 11-9041), 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) |