Reed Wattage
✓ Licensed ✓ Insured BBB A+ 15 yrs
Specialties: Surge protection, Outlet install, Whole-house rewire, Ceiling fan
Home › Cities › Chattanooga, TN › Electrical
⚡ Electrical · ChattanoogaA electrician in Chattanooga charges roughly $76/hour — driven by the BLS OEWS national mean hourly wage of $34.40 for SOC 47-2111, the TN cost-of-living index of 91.5, and the standard 2.4× contractor markup. Below: project-by-project pricing, then 3 licensed local pros.
| Project | Time | Typical cost | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard service call (diagnosis + minor repair) | 1–2 hours | $159 | $130 – $191 |
| Add a new outlet (15–20 amp, dedicated) | 1–3 hours | $183 | $150 – $220 |
| Ceiling fan install (existing wiring) | 1–2 hours | $174 | $143 – $209 |
| Panel upgrade (100A → 200A, includes permit) | 1 day | $1,762 | $1,445 – $2,114 |
| Level 2 EV charger install (50A circuit, hardwired) | 4–6 hours | $698 | $572 – $838 |
| Single room rewire (avg ~3 outlets + 1 fixture) | 1 day | $655 | $537 – $785 |
| Whole-house rewire (1500–2000 sq ft) | 5–10 days | $6,065 | $4,973 – $7,278 |
Local rate = BLS national mean × 2.4 markup × (TN COL 91.5/100). Materials adjusted by the same factor.
A licensed electrician handles anything attached to the breaker panel or carrying line voltage (120V/240V). A standard residential service call begins with the panel: the electrician verifies the main breaker rating, looks for double-tapped breakers, checks for AFCI/GFCI compliance in the right rooms, and tests for proper grounding at the service drop. Outlet, switch, and fixture work is straightforward. Panel upgrades, sub-panel adds, EV-charger installs, and whole-house rewires require a permit, a load calculation (NEC Article 220), and an inspection by the local AHJ before the panel is energized.
Cash-only quotes, "I can do it without a permit so it's cheaper," and any pressure to upsize a panel without a written load calculation explaining why.