Aerospace Engineers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,370 a year or less, while the top 10% make $182,500 or more. The middle half of aerospace engineers in Knoxville earn between $85,050 and $166,060.
- $66K10th
- $85K25th
- $107KMedian
- $166K75th
- $182K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $122,700 | $10,225 | $58.99 |
| Median | $107,100 | $8,925 | $51.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,050 | $7,088 | $40.89 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $166,060 | $13,838 | $79.84 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Aerospace Engineers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Aerospace engineers in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($122,320) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($142,060). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $134,960.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $122,700 | $107,100 | $66,370 | $182,500 | 90 |
| Tennessee | $122,320 | $128,510 | $79,690 | $171,560 | 610 |
| United States | $142,060 | $134,960 | $86,700 | $205,890 | 67,710 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Aerospace Engineers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $122,700, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $95,131 a year, or $7,928 a month and $3,659 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for aerospace engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $122,700 buys what about $132,550 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Aerospace Engineers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd of 3 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($133,740).
Highest-paying cities for aerospace engineers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($183,920).
- San Francisco, CA$183,920
- San Jose, CA$181,690
- Omaha, NE$172,720
- Washington, DC$168,780
- Boulder, CO$165,500
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Aerospace Engineers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do aerospace engineers make an hour in Knoxville?
$58.99 an hour on average, and $51.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level aerospace engineers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,370 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the aerospace engineers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $95,131 a year ($7,928 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $122,700. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do aerospace engineers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($142,060).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2011; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.50, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.50).
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