Mechanical Engineers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $148,980 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Knoxville earn between $78,790 and $126,880.
- $63K10th
- $79K25th
- $99KMedian
- $127K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,210 | $8,518 | $49.14 |
| Median | $99,070 | $8,256 | $47.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,790 | $6,566 | $37.88 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,880 | $10,573 | $61.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($104,790) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $102,210 | $99,070 | $63,200 | $148,980 | 760 |
| Tennessee | $104,790 | $99,550 | $64,150 | $156,150 | 3,930 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $102,210, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $80,735 a year, or $6,728 a month and $3,105 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 mechanical 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 $102,210 buys what about $110,415 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Chattanooga pays the most ($111,520).
- Chattanooga$111,520
- Jackson$111,450
- Memphis$106,490
- Kingsport$106,330
- Nashville$102,820
- Knoxville$102,210
- Johnson City$100,020
- Morristown$93,230
- Clarksville$92,040
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Knoxville?
$49.14 an hour on average, and $47.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $80,735 a year ($6,728 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,210. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
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 17-2141; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.9%.
- 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 0.93, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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