Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers Salary
In Tennessee, helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers earn $38,490 at the median, or about $18.51 an hour. The range runs from $30K at the entry level to $57K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $42,871 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,215/month, about 43.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $38K get you in Tennessee?
About helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $38K locally vs. $40K nationwide, a 3% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,215/month, which is 44.2% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers (10th percentile) start around $30K. Mid-career wages sit at $38K. Top earners bring in $57K or more, a $27K spread from bottom to top.
Helpers--Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $42K | +8% | 820 |
| Morristown | $41K | +6% | 30 |
| Jackson | $40K | +4% | 80 |
| Memphis | $40K | +3% | 500 |
| Knoxville | $37K | -3% | 370 |
| Clarksville | $36K | -5% | 80 |
| Chattanooga | $36K | -6% | 180 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $35K | -8% | 100 |
| Johnson City | $35K | -9% | 70 |
| Cleveland | $31K | -20% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Repair & Maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Can a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $38K, rent takes 44.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers typically earn — is $30K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,791/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 68% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair worker a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $38K locally vs. $40K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers?
Tennessee pays $38K median vs. the U.S. average of $40K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $43K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers make in Tennessee?
The median is $38,490 a year, that works out to about $19 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $29,850, and experienced helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers can clear $56,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $38K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,747/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 44.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers salary is worth about $42,871 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do helpers--installation, maintenance, and repair workers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.