OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
NEJATC (Nashville, TN)
IBEW Local 429
Nashville, TN · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$18–$22/hr
Journeyman
$36–$46/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $30 fee
Apprenticeships
Tennessee.
Free to attend. Paid from day one. No debt. Real numbers from the Department of Labor.
5,991
active construction apprentices
30+
registered programs (DOL)
3
verified open now
DOL RAPIDS data as of FY26 Q1 (March 2026)
Active Apprentices by Trade
Tennessee · DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 5,991 total
Electrician
2,863 apprentices$17.39/hr avg start
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
1,059 apprentices$19.19/hr avg start
Carpenter
592 apprentices$19.65/hr avg start
Sheet Metal Worker
308 apprentices$18.40/hr avg start
Plumber
249 apprentices$18.83/hr avg start
Boilermaker
191 apprentices$21.19/hr avg start
Ironworker
188 apprentices$20.15/hr avg start
Laborer
186 apprentices$18.17/hr avg start
+7 additional trades not shown
Electrician
$17.39/hr
avg starting wage
Pipefitter/Steamfitter
$19.19/hr
avg starting wage
Carpenter
$19.65/hr
avg starting wage
Sheet Metal Worker
$18.40/hr
avg starting wage
What journeymen earn in Tennessee · BLS OEWS 2025 · median hourly
Electricians
$29.03/hr
~$60K/yr
Plumbers & Pipefitters
$27.2/hr
~$57K/yr
HVAC Techs
$25.37/hr
~$53K/yr
Line Installers
$42.53/hr
~$88K/yr
BLS OEWS median across 10 metro areas in Tennessee. Apprentices start at ~40–50% and graduate to full journeyman scale.
Verified Programs
Manually confirmed by PlumbSquare — application status current as of research date
OPENUNION JATCRELOCATION OK
Memphis Electrical JATC
IBEW Local 474
Memphis, TN · Inside Wireman Electrician
Year 1 wage
$22–$22/hr
Journeyman
$36–$40/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $25 fee
OPENNON-UNIONRELOCATION OK
Mid-South IEC (Memphis / TN/MS/AR)
Bartlett, TN · Electrician (Non-Union)
Year 1 wage
$15–$19/hr
Journeyman
$28–$40/hr
Verified May 18, 20264 yr · 8,000 OJT hrs · $15 fee
3 manually verified. Tennessee has additional DOL-registered programs below and at Apprenticeship.gov →
DOL-Registered Programs
All active registered apprenticeship programs in Tennessee with 10+ active apprentices · Source: DOL RAPIDS FY26 Q1 · 30 shown
| Program / Sponsor | City | Trade(s) | Active | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TENNESSEE CARPENTERS REGIONAL COUNCIL J.A.T.C. | CHATTANOOGA | Carpenter | 602 | UNION |
EASTMAN CHEMICAL CO. - TN OPERATIONS | KINGSPORT | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 596 | non-union |
Nashville Plumbers and Pipefitters | NASHVILLE | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 533 | UNION |
Memphis Electrical JATC | MEMPHIS | Electrician | 450 | UNION |
CHATTANOOGA ELECTRICAL JATC | Chattanooga | Electrician | 384 | UNION |
MID SOUTH INDEPENDENT ELECTRICAL CONTRAC | MEMPHIS | Electrician | 303 | non-union |
Nashville Electrical JATC Other | NASHVILLE | Electrician | 301 | UNION |
Tennessee Millwrights Regional Council JATC Local 1554 Union/Labor | Chattanooga | Other Construction | 263 | UNION |
Resource Valley | KNOXVILLE | ElectricianCarpenter | 233 | non-union |
Plumbers & Steamfitters LU 102 JATC | Oak Ridge | Pipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber | 219 | UNION |
OAK RIDGE ELECTRIC JATC Employer | Oak Ridge | Electrician | 181 | UNION |
UA LOCAL 43 PLUMBERS STEAMFITTERS JATC | CHATTANOOGA | PlumberHVAC TechnicianPipefitter/Steamfitter | 173 | UNION |
Massey Construction, Inc. | Alcoa | ElectricianHVAC TechnicianPlumber | 151 | non-union |
Knoxville PHCC Apprenticeship School | Knoxville | Sheet Metal WorkerPlumber | 141 | non-union |
Nashville Sheetmetal JATC Union/Labor | NASHVILLE | Sheet Metal Worker | 140 | UNION |
IEC MIDDLE TENNESSEE, INC Business Association | SMYRNA | Electrician | 135 | non-union |
Electrician Training Academy Knoxville | Knoxville | Electrician | 131 | UNION |
TVA | KNOXVILLE | Electrician | 130 | UNION |
Steamfitters Local Union 614 Joint Apprenticeship Training Program Union/Labor | Arlington | Pipefitter/Steamfitter | 129 | UNION |
Elevator Constructors Local 93 Union/Labor | Goodlettsville | Elevator Constructor | 120 | non-union |
Comfort Systems USA, Shoffner, Inc. Employer | Knoxville | ElectricianPipefitter/SteamfitterPlumber+1 | 113 | non-union |
WEST TN ASSOCIATED BUILDERS & CONTRACTOR | MEMPHIS | Sheet Metal WorkerBricklayer/MasonRoofer+6 | 108 | non-union |
Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee | Nashville | ElectricianHVAC TechnicianPlumber | 96 | non-union |
ACE ELECTRIC Payco , LLC Employer | JACKSON | Electrician | 95 | non-union |
Memphis Light, Gas, and Water | MEMPHIS | Electrician | 93 | UNION |
AMTECK | DYERSBURG | Electrician | 93 | non-union |
Knoxville Area Sheet Metal JAC | KNOXVILLE | Sheet Metal Worker | 85 | UNION |
Nashville Ironworkers | NASHVILLE | Ironworker | 80 | UNION |
STANSELL ELECTRIC APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM | NASHVILLE | Electrician | 72 | non-union |
Northeast State Community College Community College/University | Kingsport | ElectricianCarpenter | 65 | non-union |
Programs with fewer than 10 active apprentices are not shown. Total DOL-registered programs in Tennessee may be higher. For the complete list, visit Apprenticeship.gov.
Common Questions
How do I become a trade apprentice in Tennessee?
Apply to a JATC or non-union program. Requirements: high school diploma or GED, basic math test, proof of age (18+). Some programs add physical requirements or drug testing. Application windows open and close seasonally — check program status before applying.
Are apprenticeships in Tennessee free?
Yes. Every DOL-registered apprenticeship is free to attend. Apprentices are employees, not students — you earn a wage from day one. No tuition, no student loans.
Union vs. non-union — which should I choose?
Union JATCs (IBEW, UA, SMART, UBC) typically offer higher wages, defined pension plans, and health insurance. Non-union programs (ABC, IEC) may have faster acceptance and work with open-shop contractors. Both paths are DOL-registered. Apply to both — take whoever accepts you first.
How long is a trade apprenticeship?
Most trades are 4–5 years (8,000–10,000 OJT hours). HVAC programs run 3–4 years. Lineman training is typically 3–4 years with specialized fieldwork. Every year your wage increases — you're earning near journeyman scale by your final year.
Tennessee Licensing
Tennessee is a right-to-work state. The Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors (under the Dept. of Commerce and Insurance) licenses general contractors, specialty contractors, HVAC contractors, and issues Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) and Limited Licensed Plumber (LLP) credentials. Full journeyman/master electrician licensing occurs locally in some jurisdictions.