2026 Salary — Tennessee
Updated April 29, 2026
Electrical Engineer Salary in Tennessee: $105K Median
Electrical Engineers in Tennessee earn between $71K and $166K per year.
That's -5% below the US national median.
Quick Answer
As of April 2026, the median Electrical Engineer salary in Tennessee is $105,013 per year — -5% below the US national median of $110,540. Salaries range from $71,250 (entry, 25th percentile) to $166,250 (90th percentile). Tennessee's cost-of-living index is 92. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Median
$105,013
+470.0% YoY
Entry
$71,250
Experienced
$137,750
Top 10%
$166,250
About Electrical Engineers in Tennessee
Electrical engineers design and develop electrical equipment, systems, and circuits. Work spans power, electronics, telecommunications, and embedded systems.
Hot 2026 Skills
Power electronics for EVSemiconductorsIoTAI hardwareRenewable energy systems
ATS Keywords
PCB designAltiumKiCadembedded systemsC/C++MATLABFPGApower systemsIoT
How to Negotiate Your Electrical Engineer Salary in Tennessee
Walk-away anchor: $93,762.
Leverage Points
- PE license carries a clear pay premium (often 10-15%) - cite it explicitly
- Project-specific experience: EV powertrain, semiconductor fab, infrastructure megaprojects
- Per-diem, travel pay, and relocation are negotiable separately from base
- Software-adjacent skills (Python, MATLAB, simulation, MLOps) raise the ceiling
Negotiate Beyond Base
PE license exam fees, study materials, review coursesRelocation package and temporary housingProject-completion or milestone bonusesPer-diem for site travel and field workTuition reimbursement for MS/PhD
Electrical Engineer Salary FAQ — Tennessee
What is the average Electrical Engineer salary in Tennessee?
The average Electrical Engineer salary in Tennessee is $105,013 per year as of April 2026. Salaries range from $71,250 (entry, 25th percentile) up to $166,250 (90th percentile). Tennessee has no state income tax — increasing take-home meaningfully.
How does Electrical Engineer pay in Tennessee compare to the US average?
Electrical Engineers in Tennessee earn approximately 5% less than the US national median ($110,540 nationally vs $105,013 in Tennessee). Tennessee's cost-of-living index of 92 amplifies the real purchasing power.
Did Electrical Engineer salaries in Tennessee increase in 2026?
Yes — Electrical Engineer salaries in Tennessee grew approximately 470.0% year-over-year, from $18,423 in 2025 to $105,013 in 2026. This reflects the broader Engineering sector's wage growth, driven by Power electronics for EV and Semiconductors demand.
Which Tennessee cities pay Electrical Engineers the most?
Top-paying Tennessee metros for Electrical Engineers: Nashville ($111K), Memphis ($97K). Click any city for full breakdown including take-home pay.
What's the job outlook for Electrical Engineers in Tennessee?
Strong 9% growth driven by EV, renewable energy, semiconductors, and AI hardware demand. Tennessee's top industries include Healthcare, Manufacturing (Auto, EV), Logistics (FedEx), and the state's unemployment rate is 3.6% — a tight labor market favoring candidates.
Does Tennessee have state income tax?
No, Tennessee has no state income tax. This significantly boosts take-home pay vs comparable salaries in tax states like California or New York. At $105,013, you keep all of it (after federal + FICA).
What skills are most in demand for Electrical Engineers in 2026?
Hottest 2026 skills: Power electronics for EV, Semiconductors, IoT, AI hardware, Renewable energy systems. ATS systems specifically scan for these. Adding them to your resume — naturally and in context — improves your match rate with Tennessee employers.
How can I increase my Electrical Engineer salary in Tennessee?
With my PE license and direct experience on [comparable project], market for this role is $X. I'd like base at that level plus a relocation package and project-completion bonus. Beyond base, negotiate: PE license exam fees, study materials, review courses, Relocation package and temporary housing, Project-completion or milestone bonuses, Per-diem for site travel and field work. Walk-away anchor for Tennessee: $93,762.
Methodology
Tennessee Electrical Engineer salary is the BLS national median ($110,540) adjusted by Tennessee's state multiplier (0.95×). YoY rate from BLS Employment Cost Index. Last reviewed April 29, 2026.
Electrical Engineer Salary in Other States
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