Customer Service Representative Salary in Knoxville, TN
Customer Service Representatives in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $38,840 a year — 13% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $33,388 take-home, or $2,782 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median customer service representative salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,481
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,408
- Medicare (1.45%)$563
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$33,388
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Customer Service Representative pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,650 | $14.25 | $26,004 | $2,167 |
| 25th percentile | $34,420 | $16.55 | $29,836 | $2,486 |
| Median (50th) | $38,840 | $18.67 | $33,388 | $2,782 |
| 75th percentile | $47,720 | $22.94 | $40,523 | $3,377 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,300 | $28.99 | $50,631 | $4,219 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $38,840 buys in Knoxville, TN
Prices in Knoxville, TN are 7.4% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 17% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median customer service representative's $33,388 take-home pay has the buying power of $36,068 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Customer Service Representative jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.94).
Best-paying cities for customer service representatives, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #85 of 142 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Des Moines, IA | $48,880 | $40,249 | $43,892 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $60,480 | $48,311 | $43,751 |
| 3 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $45,510 | $37,670 | $42,343 |
| 4 | Chattanooga, TN | $45,030 | $38,362 | $41,942 |
| 5 | Canton, OH | $44,430 | $37,440 | $41,876 |
| 6 | Green Bay, WI | $46,880 | $38,566 | $41,431 |
| 7 | Sioux Falls, SD | $43,850 | $37,413 | $41,281 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $46,040 | $38,689 | $41,193 |
| 85 | Knoxville, TN | $38,840 | $33,388 | $36,068 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 142 metros →
About the job: customer service representatives
Interact with customers to provide basic or scripted information in response to routine inquiries about products and services. May handle and resolve general complaints.
- Typical education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -5.3% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Customer Service Representative salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Chattanooga, TN — $45,030
- Memphis, TN — $44,090
- Nashville, TN — $45,510
Frequently asked questions
How much does a customer service representative make in Knoxville, TN?
The median customer service representative salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $38,840 a year, or about $18.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $34,420 and $47,720.
What is a customer service representative’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $38,840 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $33,388 a year ($2,782 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a customer service representative?
Pay here is 13% below the national median of $44,770. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $36,068 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #85 of 142 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a customer service representative afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Knoxville, TN is $1,126 a month ($1,401 for two bedrooms) — 40% of a median customer service representative’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $63,580
- Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks — $47,320
- Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive — $46,000
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks — $45,320
- Medical Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $38,420
- Office Clerks, General — $37,920