"How long does it take to become a home inspector in Tennessee?"

"Most paths into the home inspector field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"What apprenticeships are available for home inspectors in Tennessee?"

"In Tennessee, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Tennessee Department of Labor And Workforce Development - Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Home Inspector in Tennessee

Q: "How much do home inspectors earn in Tennessee?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), home inspectors in Tennessee earned a median annual wage of approximately $59,870. Employment concentration in Tennessee is roughly 0.81 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "Do home inspectors need a license in Tennessee?"

"Yes. Tennessee requires state-level licensing or registration for home inspectors, administered by the Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Fire Prevention. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

Q: "What is the job outlook for home inspectors in Tennessee?"

"Tennessee currently employs approximately 2,500 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects -0.8% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | Brad Fishbein Reviewed by Brad Fishbein, Florida Licensed Mold Assessor (MRSA1408), Council-certified Microbial Investigator

Tennessee employs approximately 2,500 home inspectors according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $59,870 ¹. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034, with about 14,800 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a home inspector in Tennessee, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Home Inspector in Tennessee

How do I become a home inspector in Tennessee? Tennessee requires credentials such as TENNESSEE HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING PROGRAM. The licensing authority is the Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Fire Prevention. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Tennessee? Yes. Tennessee has licensing or registration requirements for home inspectors. See the licensing section below for details.

What do home inspectors earn in Tennessee? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Tennessee is $59,870 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $38,670 and experienced professionals can earn $84,600 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Fire Prevention
Median wage (Tennessee): $59,870 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

Home Inspector License Requirements in Tennessee

The Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Fire Prevention oversees home inspector licensing in Tennessee.

License Types

License	Requirements
TENNESSEE HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING PROGRAM	TENNESSEE HOME INSPECTOR LICENSING PROGRAM Home inspectors conduct inspections on residential properties to check for compliance and assess if there are hazards or structural defects.

Additional Requirements

Background check: Specific type of conviction prohibited
Exam: State exam required
Experience: Work experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ³.

Home Inspector Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

Construction and Building Inspectors Wages by Metro Area in Tennessee

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), construction and building inspectors wages in Tennessee vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin	790	$61,310	$65,160	$44,910	$93,270
Memphis	570	$59,750	$62,680	$42,870	$89,420
Knoxville	440	$58,150	$59,070	$39,520	$82,540
Chattanooga	170	$55,620	$57,800	$39,960	$81,330
Clarksville	110	$62,850	$64,740	$45,480	$81,220
Kingsport-Bristol	110	$56,820	$59,430	$39,400	$77,830
Jackson	60	$54,450	$58,960	$43,070	$81,190
Johnson City	30	$50,720	$57,370	$36,940	$90,200
Morristown	30	$56,300	$54,040	$30,420	$77,490

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Home inspectors in Tennessee

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest home inspector employment within Tennessee according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin	790	$61,310
Memphis	570	$59,750
Knoxville	440	$58,150
Chattanooga	170	$55,620
Clarksville	110	$62,850

Explore home inspector programs in Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville.

Explore More Trades in Tennessee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for home inspectors in Tennessee? Tennessee currently employs approximately 2,500 home inspectors ¹. Nationally, home inspector employment is projected to grow -0.8% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a home inspector in Tennessee with an out-of-state license? Contact the Department of Commerce and Insurance - Division of Fire Prevention for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Tennessee? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Tennessee.

How much do home inspectors earn in Tennessee compared to the national average? The median annual wage for home inspectors in Tennessee is $59,870, which is $12,250 below the national median of $72,120 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

Meet the author: Brad Fishbein is a Florida Licensed Mold Assessor and council-certified Microbial Investigator. He is the founder of TradeCareerPath.com and has completed over 5,000 mold inspections since 2009. Brad helps homeowners and tradespeople make informed decisions about mold, licensing, and skilled career paths.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

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)