Dishwasher Salary in Knoxville, TN
Dishwashers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $29,530 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,907 take-home, or $2,159 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,364
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,831
- Medicare (1.45%)$428
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,907
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Dishwasher pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $23,070 | $11.09 | $20,608 | $1,717 |
| 25th percentile | $27,360 | $13.15 | $24,141 | $2,012 |
| Median (50th) | $29,530 | $14.20 | $25,907 | $2,159 |
| 75th percentile | $35,480 | $17.06 | $30,688 | $2,557 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,960 | $18.25 | $32,681 | $2,723 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,530 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 dishwasher's $25,907 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,987 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dishwasher jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.86).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #77 of 156 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $45,930 | $37,094 | $33,909 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $43,960 | $36,183 | $32,767 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $34,800 | $29,444 | $31,816 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $37,110 | $31,417 | $31,780 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $36,330 | $31,371 | $31,263 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $33,810 | $28,688 | $31,212 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $35,360 | $30,592 | $31,195 |
| 77 | Knoxville, TN | $29,530 | $25,907 | $27,987 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 156 metros →
Dishwasher salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $34,380
- Memphis, TN — $29,700
- Chattanooga, TN — $29,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Knoxville, TN?
The median dishwasher salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $29,530 a year, or about $14.20 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,360 and $35,480.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $29,530 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,907 a year ($2,159 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,987 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #77 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher 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) — 52% of a median dishwasher’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- Chef and Head Cook — $62,770
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $41,380
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,520
- Food Preparation and Serving Related Workers, All Other — $35,970
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $35,150
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,960
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $30,080
- Food Servers, Nonrestaurant — $29,100
- Bartender — $28,860
- Waiter and Waitress — $28,100
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,720
- Cooks, Fast Food — $27,580