Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education Salary in Knoxville, TN
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $61,980 a year — 3% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $51,981 take-home, or $4,332 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,258
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,843
- Medicare (1.45%)$899
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,981
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $49,880 | $23.98 | $42,259 | $3,522 |
| 25th percentile | $50,270 | $24.17 | $42,572 | $3,548 |
| Median (50th) | $61,980 | $29.80 | $51,981 | $4,332 |
| 75th percentile | $62,790 | $30.19 | $52,632 | $4,386 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $72,940 | $35.07 | $60,143 | $5,012 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $61,980 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 elementary school teachers, except special education's $51,981 take-home pay has the buying power of $56,154 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.89).
Best-paying cities for elementary school teachers, except special education, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #44 of 99 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,920 | $81,234 | $73,096 |
| 2 | Visalia, CA | $98,430 | $71,872 | $71,998 |
| 3 | Modesto, CA | $101,640 | $73,789 | $70,878 |
| 4 | Sacramento, CA | $103,390 | $74,835 | $70,156 |
| 5 | Bridgeport, CT | $98,600 | $74,347 | $69,572 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $80,360 | $63,936 | $68,975 |
| 7 | Stockton, CA | $97,400 | $71,256 | $67,805 |
| 8 | Riverside, CA | $98,520 | $71,925 | $67,572 |
| 44 | Knoxville, TN | $61,980 | $51,981 | $56,154 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 99 metros →
About the job: elementary school teachers, except special education
Teach academic and social skills to students at the elementary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.4% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $61,510
- Nashville, TN — $61,460
Frequently asked questions
How much does a elementary school teachers, except special education make in Knoxville, TN?
The median elementary school teachers, except special education salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $61,980 a year, or about $29.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,270 and $62,790.
What is a elementary school teachers, except special education’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $61,980 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $51,981 a year ($4,332 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a elementary school teachers, except special education?
Pay here is 3% below the national median of $63,970. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $56,154 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #44 of 99 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a elementary school teachers, except special education 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) — 26% of a median elementary school teachers, except special education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.