Lighting Technicians Salary
Lighting Technicians in Tennessee make a median of $60,870 a year, or about $29.27 an hour. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $67,799 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 28.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Tennessee?
About lighting technicians
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for lighting technicians in Tennessee runs about 11% below the U.S. median of $68K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 lighting technicians (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $94K spread from bottom to top.
Lighting Technicians salary by metro in Tennessee
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $63K | +3% | 160 |
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Track lighting technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lighting technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 28.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for lighting technicians in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new lighting technicians typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,588/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 47% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is lighting technician a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 11% below the national median — $61K here vs. $68K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for lighting technicians?
Tennessee pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $68K — that’s -11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — below the national median.
How much do lighting technicians make in Tennessee?
The median is $60,870 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,140, and experienced lighting technicians can clear $137,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,246/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 28.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a lighting technicians 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 lighting technicians salary is worth about $67,799 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do lighting technicians 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.