Statewide pay Government data
Construction laborers in Tennessee earn a statewide median of $45,000 a year, 4% below the typical U.S. metro, ranking #37 of 50 states and DC. About 26,250 people work in the trade statewide.
Statewide pay range
States ranked near Tennessee
See all states on the construction laborers nationwide.
Pay by city Government data
| Metro | Median pay | Real pay | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| NashvilleTENNESSEE · TN | $46,190 | $47,946 | 9,170 |
| KnoxvilleTENNESSEE · TN | $46,130 | $49,833 | 3,640 |
| KingsportTENNESSEE · TN | $45,370 | $52,483 | 1,430 |
| MemphisTENNESSEE · TN | $44,810 | $48,612 | 3,940 |
| JacksonTENNESSEE · TN | $44,610 | $52,162 | 580 |
| ClevelandTENNESSEE · TN | $44,190 | $50,170 | 310 |
| ChattanoogaTENNESSEE · TN | $43,260 | $47,297 | 1,800 |
| ClarksvilleTENNESSEE · TN | $41,950 | $46,126 | 620 |
| Johnson CityTENNESSEE · TN | $41,150 | $46,800 | 580 |
| MorristownTENNESSEE · TN | $38,400 | $44,463 | 520 |
Pay: BLS OEWS, May 2025 (metro-level). Real pay: BEA price parities, 2024. How we calculate
Pay outside the cities Government data
BLS also reports pay for Tennessee's rural (nonmetropolitan) regions.
BLS OEWS nonmetropolitan areas, May 2025.
The job (national)
Perform tasks involving physical labor at construction sites. May operate hand and power tools of all types: air hammers, earth tampers, cement mixers, small mechanical hoists, surveying and measuring equipment, and a variety of other equipment and instruments. May clean and prepare sites, dig trenches, set braces to support the sides of excavations, erect scaffolding, and clean up rubble, debris, and other waste materials. May assist other craft workers.
Nationally, jobs are projected to grow 7.3% from 2025 to 2035, with about 120,000 openings a year. Typical training: short-term on-the-job training.
Nationally, construction laborers have 218 injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work per 10,000 full-time workers, 2.5× the rate for all jobs (87). The most common cause is being struck by or caught in objects and equipment.
What the work is like Government data
How often construction laborers deal with each condition, from surveys of workers in the job.
Getting started usually takes some preparation (high school plus months of training).
O*NET 31.0 Work Context and Job Zones (U.S. Department of Labor), national.
Licensing in Tennessee Official source
The main state licensing office in Tennessee is the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. It can point you to the right license for construction laborers.
Official Tennessee licensing site ↗
Requirements for construction laborers vary by state and sometimes by city; always confirm with the official agency.
Cities in Tennessee
All trades in Tennessee.