Electrician in Memphis

June 14, 2026

Unlike national lead-generation platforms that route a service request to whoever bids highest, a Memphis electrician sends a licensed professional to the property to assess the panel, the wiring, and local code conditions in person before any work begins. Memphis is Tennessee’s second-largest city, with a population of roughly 619,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and as a major logistics and distribution hub it carries an unusually large base of commercial and industrial electrical demand alongside its residential market. That mix, spanning warehouses and retail centers as well as the city’s older single-family housing stock, keeps demand steady for panel upgrades, rewiring, generator installation, lighting, and the electric-vehicle charging circuits that newer homes and fleets increasingly require.

The work ranges widely in scope and risk. Replacing a light fixture is a different undertaking from upgrading a service panel, running three-phase power for a commercial tenant, or installing a dedicated 240-volt circuit for a Level 2 EV charger, and Tennessee’s licensing framework reflects that difference. Electrical work tied to service entrances, load calculations, and safety systems is governed by the National Electrical Code as adopted and amended locally, which is why homeowners and business owners are generally directed to a licensed electrician for anything beyond basic device replacement. Memphis and Shelby County also carry a substantial inventory of mid-century housing that can include outdated panels, ungrounded outlets, or aging branch wiring that a qualified electrician can identify and correct.

In Tennessee, electrical contracting on larger projects falls under the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. A contractor license, carrying an electrical (CE) classification, is required for projects of $25,000 or more in total contract value, including materials, equipment, labor, and profit. Smaller electrical work is covered by a separate Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license, also issued by the Board for Licensing Contractors, which applies to projects under $25,000 in jurisdictions that do not maintain their own local electrical licensing. Permits and inspections are handled locally or through the State Fire Marshal’s electrical inspection program, and the City of Memphis and Shelby County administer their own permitting through their construction code enforcement offices. Homeowners can confirm any license at tn.gov through the Board for Licensing Contractors before hiring. Because thresholds and license classes are periodically revised, readers should verify current figures directly with the Board.

Electrical purchases and taxable services carry Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax plus the local option tax; in Shelby County the combined rate reaches roughly 9.75%. Consumer protection for electrical work runs through the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), which handles complaints about deceptive trade practices, while the state’s mechanics’ lien law (TCA 66-11-145) gives contractors 90 days from completion to file a lien, a timeline worth understanding when scheduling payment milestones. Before signing, buyers should request proof of license and insurance, a written scope of work, and confirmation that the electrician will pull the required local permit and schedule the inspection. This article is informational and not legal advice; verify all licenses and current requirements through the Board for Licensing Contractors at tn.gov.

Top Electrician Providers in Memphis

1. Power Doctors LLC

Address: 3488 Winhoma Drive, Memphis, TN 38118
Phone: (901) 795-6043
Website: https://powerdoctors.net
Services: residential wiring upgrades, panel replacements, lighting installations, electrical repairs and safety inspections, commercial system design, installation, maintenance and energy-efficient upgrades, industrial machinery wiring, control systems, motor installations, preventive maintenance, troubleshooting
Description: Power Doctors is a local, family-owned electrical contractor based in Memphis serving residential, commercial, and industrial clients. The company was founded by Roy and Cheryl Campbell, with Roy Campbell bringing more than 40 years of electrical experience, and it is currently owned by Hayes Denney and Carlton Anderson. Its residential work covers wiring upgrades, panel replacements, lighting, repairs, and safety inspections; its commercial division handles system design, installation, maintenance, and energy-efficient upgrades; and its industrial services cover machinery wiring, control systems, motor installations, and preventive maintenance with attention to code and safety compliance. The breadth across all three sectors, paired with a long-tenured founder, distinguishes the company within the Memphis market.

2. MJR Electrical Contractors

Address: 5410 Crestview Road, Memphis, TN 38134
Phone: (901) 249-7045
Website: https://mjr-electrical.com
Services: residential electrical services, commercial electrical services, Generac generator sales and installation, backup power solutions, free in-home estimates
Description: MJR Electrical Contractors is a family-owned electrical company based in Memphis that provides residential and commercial electrical services across the city. The company places particular emphasis on backup power, working as a Generac generator dealer that handles both the sale and installation of standby generator systems, a capability that matters in a region where storms can interrupt service. It offers free in-home estimates and frames its work around reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy solutions for homeowners and businesses. While the company does not publish a founding year, its Memphis address and dedicated electrical focus place it squarely in the city’s residential and commercial service market.

3. Rush Electric LLC

Address: 8052 TN-3, Millington, TN 38053
Phone: (901) 660-5040
Website: https://rushelectrictn.com
Services: panel repair and replacement, surge protection, commercial and industrial electrical services, low-voltage services, generator installation and repair, lighting installation and repair, EV charger installation, circuit breaker service, system wiring and troubleshooting, voice and data cabling, preventative maintenance
Description: Rush Electric is a licensed electrical contractor based in Millington, in Shelby County, that serves Memphis and the surrounding communities. The company has served commercial property owners and managers in the Memphis area for nearly two decades, and its owner brings more than 30 years of industry experience. Its services span panel repair and replacement, surge protection, generator installation, lighting, EV charger installation, circuit breaker work, and voice and data cabling, with a strong commercial and industrial orientation alongside its low-voltage capabilities. Rush Electric holds Tennessee license #53130, is bonded and insured, and is certified as a Women Business Enterprise. Its stated service area includes Memphis, Germantown, Bartlett, Collierville, Millington, Arlington, Lakeland, Atoka, Eads, and additional areas in Shelby County.

Frequently Asked Questions About Electrician in Memphis

Q: Does an electrician in Memphis need a state license?

For electrical projects valued at $25,000 or more in total contract value, the electrician or company must hold a contractor license with an electrical (CE) classification from the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors. Smaller electrical work, under $25,000, is covered by a Limited Licensed Electrician (LLE) license issued by the same board, which applies in jurisdictions that do not maintain their own local electrical licensing. The City of Memphis and Shelby County also administer local permitting. You can verify any license at tn.gov, and because thresholds change, confirm the current figures with the Board before hiring.

Q: How much is sales tax on electrical work and materials in Memphis?

Tennessee charges a 7% state sales tax, and Shelby County adds a local option tax that brings the combined rate to roughly 9.75%. How labor is taxed depends on how the electrician structures the transaction, so ask for an itemized invoice that separates materials, labor, and tax.

Q: When do I legally need a permit and inspection for electrical work in Memphis?

Permits and inspections in Memphis are handled locally through the City of Memphis and Shelby County construction code enforcement offices, with some electrical inspection work tied to the State Fire Marshal’s electrical inspection program. Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, and most wiring tied into a building’s electrical system generally require a permit and a follow-up inspection. A licensed electrician will typically pull the permit and schedule the inspection as part of the job, which is worth confirming in writing before work begins.

Q: When is a licensed electrician required rather than a handyman?

Tennessee’s framework directs work involving service entrances, panel changes, load calculations, and new circuits to a licensed professional, because that work is governed by the National Electrical Code as adopted and amended locally. Basic device replacement may not trigger a license requirement, but anything affecting the panel, the service, or a building’s wiring system, including the three-phase systems common in Memphis commercial spaces, should be handled by a licensed electrician for safety and to keep the work permittable and inspectable.

Q: What should I confirm before hiring an electrician in Memphis?

Request proof of the appropriate license and current liability insurance, a written scope of work and price, and confirmation that the electrician will pull the required local permit and schedule the inspection. Verify the license through the Board for Licensing Contractors at tn.gov. Because Tennessee’s mechanics’ lien law (TCA 66-11-145) allows a contractor to file a lien within 90 days of completion, tying payments to completed and inspected milestones protects both sides.

Q: How do I file a complaint or verify an electrician’s standing in Memphis?

Complaints about deceptive practices or contract disputes can be filed with the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which enforces the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Complaints involving a licensed contractor can also be directed to the Board for Licensing Contractors, which maintains license records at tn.gov. Keeping the signed contract, permit records, payment receipts, and photographs of the work strengthens any complaint.