Nursing Assistants pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,140 a year or less, while the top 10% make $43,450 or more. The middle half of nursing assistants in Knoxville earn between $34,620 and $38,740.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $38KMedian
- $39K75th
- $43K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $37,170 | $3,098 | $17.87 |
| Median | $38,000 | $3,167 | $18.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,620 | $2,885 | $16.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $38,740 | $3,228 | $18.62 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Nursing Assistants pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Nursing assistants in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($38,230) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($42,700). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $42,260.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $37,170 | $38,000 | $31,140 | $43,450 | 3,860 |
| Tennessee | $38,230 | $37,990 | $31,110 | $44,660 | 27,040 |
| United States | $42,700 | $42,260 | $33,940 | $51,980 | 1,448,910 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Nursing Assistants salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $37,170, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $32,046 a year, or $2,671 a month and $1,233 every two weeks. Taxes take 14% 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 nursing assistants? 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 $37,170 buys what about $40,154 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 9.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Nursing Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 7th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($41,160).
- Nashville$41,160
- Memphis$38,520
- Chattanooga$38,460
- Kingsport$37,760
- Johnson City$37,230
- Clarksville$37,180
- Knoxville$37,170
- Morristown$36,860
- Cleveland$35,940
- Jackson$35,560
Highest-paying cities for nursing assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,370).
- San Jose, CA$59,370
- San Francisco, CA$56,700
- Seattle, WA$55,220
- Grants Pass, OR$52,720
- Portland, OR$52,660
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Nursing Assistants salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do nursing assistants make an hour in Knoxville?
$17.87 an hour on average, and $18.27 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level nursing assistants salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,140 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,620, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the nursing assistants take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $32,046 a year ($2,671 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $37,170. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do nursing assistants earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($42,700).
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 31-1131; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
- 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 0.98, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.