Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker Salary in Knoxville, TN
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $36,040 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $31,138 take-home, or $2,595 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,145
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,234
- Medicare (1.45%)$523
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$31,138
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $29,450 | $14.16 | $25,843 | $2,154 |
| 25th percentile | $35,080 | $16.87 | $30,367 | $2,531 |
| Median (50th) | $36,040 | $17.33 | $31,138 | $2,595 |
| 75th percentile | $43,270 | $20.80 | $36,947 | $3,079 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $46,390 | $22.30 | $39,454 | $3,288 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,040 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 landscaping and groundskeeping worker's $31,138 take-home pay has the buying power of $33,638 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.16).
Best-paying cities for landscaping and groundskeeping workers, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #36 of 73 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Omaha, NE | $45,970 | $37,905 | $41,241 |
| 2 | Milwaukee, WI | $44,440 | $36,713 | $37,873 |
| 3 | Kansas City, MO | $41,450 | $34,474 | $37,252 |
| 4 | Portland, ME | $46,670 | $37,711 | $37,023 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,480 | $41,134 | $37,013 |
| 6 | Providence, RI | $45,250 | $37,458 | $36,806 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $47,160 | $38,369 | $36,604 |
| 8 | Boise City, ID | $43,540 | $35,965 | $36,553 |
| 36 | Knoxville, TN | $36,040 | $31,138 | $33,638 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 73 metros →
About the job: landscaping and groundskeeping workers
Landscape or maintain grounds of property using hand or power tools or equipment. Workers typically perform a variety of tasks, which may include any combination of the following: sod laying, mowing, trimming, planting, watering, fertilizing, digging, raking, sprinkler installation, and installation of mortarless segmental concrete masonry wall units.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +4.7% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Landscaping and Groundskeeping Worker salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $36,500
- Nashville, TN — $37,910
Frequently asked questions
How much does a landscaping and groundskeeping worker make in Knoxville, TN?
The median landscaping and groundskeeping worker salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $36,040 a year, or about $17.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,080 and $43,270.
What is a landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $36,040 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $31,138 a year ($2,595 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a landscaping and groundskeeping worker?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $39,150. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $33,638 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #36 of 73 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a landscaping and groundskeeping worker 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) — 43% of a median landscaping and groundskeeping worker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.