Tax Preparers pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,270 or more. The middle half of tax preparers in Knoxville earn between $28,990 and $71,500.
- $29K10th
- $29K25th
- $45KMedian
- $72K75th
- $77K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,250 | $4,021 | $23.20 |
| Median | $44,940 | $3,745 | $21.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $28,990 | $2,416 | $13.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $71,500 | $5,958 | $34.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Tax Preparers pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Tax preparers in Knoxville earn 5% more than the Tennessee average ($45,740) and 21% less than the U.S. average ($60,930). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $54,920.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $48,250 | $44,940 | $28,860 | $77,270 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $45,740 | $36,600 | $27,770 | $77,270 | 1,260 |
| United States | $60,930 | $54,920 | $33,760 | $99,270 | 76,480 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Tax Preparers salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $48,250, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $40,949 a year, or $3,412 a month and $1,575 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 tax preparers? 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 $48,250 buys what about $52,123 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 7.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Tax Preparers salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd of 6 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($54,500).
- Nashville$54,500
- Knoxville$48,250
- Kingsport$44,580
- Chattanooga$44,330
- Memphis$43,420
- Clarksville$39,760
Highest-paying cities for tax preparers
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($84,300).
- San Francisco, CA$84,300
- San Jose, CA$83,550
- Kansas City, MO$82,540
- Anchorage, AK$77,620
- Jefferson City, MO$77,180
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Tax Preparers salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do tax preparers make an hour in Knoxville?
$23.20 an hour on average, and $21.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level tax preparers salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $28,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $28,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the tax preparers take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $40,949 a year ($3,412 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,250. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do tax preparers earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% less than the U.S. average for this job ($60,930).
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 13-2082; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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 0.71, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.71).
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