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General Contractor salary in Tennessee
The middle half of general contractors in Tennessee earned $28.46 to $44.77 an hour in May 2025, and the top tenth $52.08 or more.1 The median is 7% below the US median.2
BLS has no general contractor occupation. These figures are for first-line supervisors of construction trades (SOC 47-1011); construction managers (SOC 11-9021) in Tennessee earned a median $52.98 an hour ($110,200 a year). OEWS counts employees only, so self-employed contractors are not included.
- 10th
- $23.56
- 25th
- $28.46
- Median
- $35.81
- 75th
- $44.77
- 90th
- $52.08
- 10th
- $49,000
- 25th
- $59,190
- Median
- $74,470
- 75th
- $93,130
- 90th
- $108,320
Which Tennessee cities pay general contractors the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin has the highest median of the 10 metro areas below, $37.90 an hour; Johnson City has the lowest, $30.15.1
- Nashville–Davidson$37.90
- Memphis$36.47
- Chattanooga$36.10
- Clarksville$34.49
- Jackson$33.60
- Kingsport–Bristol$33.47
- Morristown$33.15
- Knoxville$32.13
Do general contractors make $100,000 a year in Tennessee?
Between 10% and 25% do. $100,000 falls between the 75th percentile ($93,130) and the 90th ($108,320).1
How much do new general contractors make in Tennessee?
The lowest-paid tenth of general contractors in Tennessee earned $23.56 an hour or less ($49,000 a year), and the lowest quarter earned $28.46 or less.1 OEWS does not report apprentice pay separately.
Are general contractors in demand in Tennessee?
Projections Central expects Tennessee to go from 18,240 general contractor jobs in 2024 to 21,030 in 2034, a change of 15.3%, with about 1,720 openings a year.3 The US projection is 5.3%.
| Area | Jobs 2024 | Jobs 2034 | Change | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | 18,240 | 21,030 | 15.3% | 1,720 |
| United States | 921,600 | 970,600 | 5.3% | 74,400 |
How does general contractor pay compare with other trades in Tennessee?
General contractors have the highest median pay of the five trades on this site in Tennessee, $35.81 an hour. Electricians are next at $29.37.1
| Trade | Median hourly | Median annual | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Contractors | $35.81 | $74,470 | 17,770 |
| Electricians | $29.37 | $61,090 | 17,070 |
| Plumbers | $28.17 | $58,600 | 9,270 |
| HVAC Technicians | $26.68 | $55,490 | 9,740 |
| Roofers | $21.97 | $45,690 | 2,110 |
Where to train in Tennessee
Sources
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, Tennessee, May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- BLS OEWS national estimates: First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers (47-1011), May 2025 (bls.gov, May 2025)
- Projections Central, long-term occupational projections 2024-2034 (projectionscentral.org, 2024-2034)