Carpenter Salary in Knoxville, TN
Carpenters in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $50,400 a year — 17% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,676 take-home, or $3,556 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,868
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,125
- Medicare (1.45%)$731
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,676
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Carpenter pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,600 | $17.60 | $31,588 | $2,632 |
| 25th percentile | $45,980 | $22.11 | $39,125 | $3,260 |
| Median (50th) | $50,400 | $24.23 | $42,676 | $3,556 |
| 75th percentile | $59,400 | $28.56 | $49,908 | $4,159 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $70,100 | $33.70 | $58,145 | $4,845 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,400 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 carpenter's $42,676 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,102 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Carpenter jobs are less concentrated in Knoxville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.70), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #125 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 125 | Knoxville, TN | $50,400 | $42,676 | $46,102 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $55,770
- Chattanooga, TN — $50,760
- Memphis, TN — $50,620
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Knoxville, TN?
The median carpenter salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $50,400 a year, or about $24.23 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,980 and $59,400.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $50,400 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $42,676 a year ($3,556 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 17% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,102 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #125 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter 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) — 32% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $66,830
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $59,860
- Electrician — $58,640
- Construction and Building Inspector — $58,150
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $48,690
- Construction Laborer — $46,130
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $45,970
- Roofer — $45,030