Machinists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,670 a year or less, while the top 10% make $66,280 or more. The middle half of machinists in Knoxville earn between $44,800 and $62,080.
- $37K10th
- $45K25th
- $50KMedian
- $62K75th
- $66K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $52,940 | $4,412 | $25.45 |
| Median | $49,900 | $4,158 | $23.99 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $44,800 | $3,733 | $21.54 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $62,080 | $5,173 | $29.85 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Machinists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Machinists in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($53,180) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($59,320). At the median the gap is -15% against the U.S. median of $58,750.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $52,940 | $49,900 | $36,670 | $66,280 | 1,470 |
| Tennessee | $53,180 | $49,600 | $37,560 | $70,430 | 8,270 |
| United States | $59,320 | $58,750 | $39,200 | $80,010 | 287,050 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Machinists salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $52,940, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $44,717 a year, or $3,726 a month and $1,720 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 machinists? 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 $52,940 buys what about $57,190 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Machinists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($58,390).
- Memphis$58,390
- Clarksville$57,370
- Kingsport$56,220
- Nashville$54,480
- Chattanooga$54,340
- Knoxville$52,940
- Morristown$52,030
- Jackson$50,180
- Cleveland$47,950
- Johnson City$46,900
Highest-paying cities for machinists
Honolulu, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($81,140).
- Honolulu, HI$81,140
- Bremerton, WA$79,720
- Barnstable, MA$77,800
- Florence, AL$77,420
- San Francisco, CA$76,240
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Machinists salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do machinists make an hour in Knoxville?
$25.45 an hour on average, and $23.99 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level machinists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,670 a year and the 25th percentile is $44,800, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the machinists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $44,717 a year ($3,726 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $52,940. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do machinists earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% less than the U.S. average for this job ($59,320).
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 51-4041; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 1.87, this job is 1.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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