Machinist Salary in Knoxville, TN
Machinists in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $49,900 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,275 take-home, or $3,523 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,808
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,094
- Medicare (1.45%)$724
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,275
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Machinist pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,670 | $17.63 | $31,644 | $2,637 |
| 25th percentile | $44,800 | $21.54 | $38,177 | $3,181 |
| Median (50th) | $49,900 | $23.99 | $42,275 | $3,523 |
| 75th percentile | $62,080 | $29.85 | $52,061 | $4,338 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,280 | $31.87 | $55,436 | $4,620 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $49,900 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 machinist's $42,275 take-home pay has the buying power of $45,668 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 1.9× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #89 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 89 | Knoxville, TN | $49,900 | $42,275 | $45,668 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $57,890
- Memphis, TN — $59,220
- Chattanooga, TN — $51,540
- Nashville, TN — $51,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Knoxville, TN?
The median machinist salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $49,900 a year, or about $23.99 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $44,800 and $62,080.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $49,900 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $42,275 a year ($3,523 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $45,668 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #89 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist 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) — 32% of a median machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $64,300
- Tool and Die Maker — $63,180
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operator — $59,120
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $51,170
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $48,040
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $46,920
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,130
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $45,450
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $45,420
- Helpers--Production Worker — $41,330
- Production Workers, All Other — $39,560
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — $39,400