Construction Laborer Salary in Knoxville, TN
Construction Laborers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $46,130 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $39,245 take-home, or $3,270 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,356
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,860
- Medicare (1.45%)$669
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$39,245
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $35,640 | $17.13 | $30,817 | $2,568 |
| 25th percentile | $37,780 | $18.16 | $32,536 | $2,711 |
| Median (50th) | $46,130 | $22.18 | $39,245 | $3,270 |
| 75th percentile | $53,810 | $25.87 | $45,416 | $3,785 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,630 | $32.03 | $55,704 | $4,642 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $46,130 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 construction laborer's $39,245 take-home pay has the buying power of $42,396 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Knoxville, TN has 1.2× the national concentration of construction laborer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #116 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 116 | Knoxville, TN | $46,130 | $39,245 | $42,396 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $45,370
- Jackson, TN — $44,610
- Memphis, TN — $44,810
- Nashville, TN — $46,190
- Chattanooga, TN — $43,260
- Johnson City, TN — $41,150
- Clarksville, TN — $41,950
- Morristown, TN — $38,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Knoxville, TN?
The median construction laborer salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $46,130 a year, or about $22.18 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $37,780 and $53,810.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $46,130 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $39,245 a year ($3,270 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $42,396 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #116 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer 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) — 34% of a median construction laborer’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
- Carpenter — $50,400
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $48,690
- Cement Mason and Concrete Finisher — $45,970
- Roofer — $45,030