Electrical Engineer Salary in Knoxville, TN
Electrical Engineers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $108,590 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $85,223 take-home, or $7,102 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median electrical engineer salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$15,060
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,733
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,575
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$85,223
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Electrical Engineer pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,120 | $36.12 | $61,677 | $5,140 |
| 25th percentile | $84,220 | $40.49 | $68,079 | $5,673 |
| Median (50th) | $108,590 | $52.21 | $85,223 | $7,102 |
| 75th percentile | $132,960 | $63.92 | $102,144 | $8,512 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,210 | $79.91 | $124,871 | $10,406 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $108,590 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 electrical engineer's $85,223 take-home pay has the buying power of $92,064 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Electrical Engineer jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for electrical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #20 of 79 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albuquerque, NM | $163,720 | $116,477 | $121,907 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $159,360 | $120,189 | $113,754 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $145,360 | $110,620 | $112,801 |
| 4 | San Jose, CA | $187,060 | $123,681 | $112,007 |
| 5 | Chattanooga, TN | $123,840 | $95,911 | $104,862 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | $131,070 | $100,852 | $102,254 |
| 7 | Huntsville, AL | $130,330 | $94,095 | $101,099 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $128,190 | $98,884 | $98,806 |
| 20 | Knoxville, TN | $108,590 | $85,223 | $92,064 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 79 metros →
Electrical Engineer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Chattanooga, TN — $123,840
- Nashville, TN — $99,790
Frequently asked questions
How much does a electrical engineer make in Knoxville, TN?
The median electrical engineer salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $108,590 a year, or about $52.21 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,220 and $132,960.
What is a electrical engineer’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $108,590 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $85,223 a year ($7,102 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a electrical engineer?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $120,630. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $92,064 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #20 of 79 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a electrical engineer 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) — 16% of a median electrical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- Engineers, All Other — $99,650
- Mechanical Engineer — $99,070
- Civil Engineer — $96,320
- Industrial Engineer — $95,750
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $48,830