Environmental Engineers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $172,370 or more. The middle half of environmental engineers in Knoxville earn between $62,630 and $134,260.
- $63K10th
- $63K25th
- $87KMedian
- $134K75th
- $172K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,520 | $8,377 | $48.33 |
| Median | $86,550 | $7,212 | $41.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $62,630 | $5,219 | $30.11 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $134,260 | $11,188 | $64.55 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Environmental Engineers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Environmental engineers in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($101,260) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($112,910). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $107,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $100,520 | $86,550 | $62,630 | $172,370 | 190 |
| Tennessee | $101,260 | $97,190 | $62,630 | $142,660 | 540 |
| United States | $112,910 | $107,110 | $69,990 | $162,220 | 38,340 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Environmental Engineers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $100,520, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $79,546 a year, or $6,629 a month and $3,059 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% 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 environmental 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 $100,520 buys what about $108,589 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Environmental Engineers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($106,130).
- Nashville$106,130
- Memphis$104,800
- Knoxville$100,520
- Chattanooga$91,370
Highest-paying cities for environmental engineers
Baton Rouge, LA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,100).
- Baton Rouge, LA$144,100
- Kennewick, WA$140,210
- Vallejo, CA$140,040
- Santa Rosa, CA$138,740
- Beaumont, TX$135,550
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Environmental Engineers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do environmental engineers make an hour in Knoxville?
$48.33 an hour on average, and $41.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level environmental engineers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $62,630, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the environmental engineers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $79,546 a year ($6,629 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,520. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do environmental engineers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($112,910).
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 17-2081; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.8%.
- 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 1.77, this job is 1.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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