Childcare Workers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,470 a year or less, while the top 10% make $35,270 or more. The middle half of childcare workers in Knoxville earn between $27,020 and $34,590.
- $21K10th
- $27K25th
- $30KMedian
- $35K75th
- $35K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $29,570 | $2,464 | $14.22 |
| Median | $29,590 | $2,466 | $14.23 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,020 | $2,252 | $12.99 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $34,590 | $2,882 | $16.63 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Childcare Workers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Childcare workers in Knoxville earn 4% less than the Tennessee average ($30,720) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($35,030). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $34,980.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $29,570 | $29,590 | $21,470 | $35,270 | 1,800 |
| Tennessee | $30,720 | $29,660 | $21,730 | $38,050 | 13,650 |
| United States | $35,030 | $34,980 | $24,260 | $46,010 | 518,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Childcare Workers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $29,570, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $25,939 a year, or $2,162 a month and $998 every two weeks. Taxes take 12% 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 childcare workers? 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 $29,570 buys what about $31,944 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 12.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Childcare Workers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($33,950).
- Nashville$33,950
- Johnson City$29,950
- Knoxville$29,570
- Memphis$29,390
- Chattanooga$29,240
- Kingsport$28,170
- Clarksville$28,010
- Morristown$27,560
- Cleveland$27,470
- Jackson$26,160
Highest-paying cities for childcare workers
Sarasota, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($52,680).
- Sarasota, FL$52,680
- San Jose, CA$48,450
- San Francisco, CA$46,100
- Seattle, WA$44,390
- Boulder, CO$44,280
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Childcare Workers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do childcare workers make an hour in Knoxville?
$14.22 an hour on average, and $14.23 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level childcare workers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $21,470 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the childcare workers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $25,939 a year ($2,162 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $29,570. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do childcare workers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($35,030).
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 39-9011; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- 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 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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