Mechanical Engineer Salary in Knoxville, TN
Mechanical Engineers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $99,070 a year — 5% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $78,526 take-home, or $6,544 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median mechanical engineer salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$12,965
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,142
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,437
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$78,526
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Mechanical Engineer pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,200 | $30.38 | $52,961 | $4,413 |
| 25th percentile | $78,790 | $37.88 | $64,259 | $5,355 |
| Median (50th) | $99,070 | $47.63 | $78,526 | $6,544 |
| 75th percentile | $126,880 | $61.00 | $97,988 | $8,166 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $148,980 | $71.63 | $113,094 | $9,424 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $99,070 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 mechanical engineer's $78,526 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,829 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Mechanical Engineer jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for mechanical engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #28 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 | $135,530 | $100,221 | $110,400 |
| 2 | Beaumont, TX | $122,280 | $94,844 | $105,329 |
| 3 | Peoria, IL | $128,710 | $93,013 | $101,953 |
| 4 | Columbus, IN | $127,700 | $94,811 | $101,944 |
| 5 | San Jose, CA | $168,030 | $112,533 | $101,911 |
| 6 | Augusta, GA | $128,740 | $93,201 | $101,412 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $125,350 | $96,943 | $98,290 |
| 8 | Kennewick, WA | $124,780 | $96,553 | $96,477 |
| 28 | Knoxville, TN | $99,070 | $78,526 | $84,829 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Mechanical Engineer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Chattanooga, TN — $106,660
- Nashville, TN — $99,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mechanical engineer make in Knoxville, TN?
The median mechanical engineer salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $99,070 a year, or about $47.63 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $78,790 and $126,880.
What is a mechanical engineer’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $99,070 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $78,526 a year ($6,544 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a mechanical engineer?
Pay here is 5% below the national median of $104,110. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,829 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #28 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a mechanical 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) — 17% of a median mechanical engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- Electrical Engineer — $108,590
- Engineers, All Other — $99,650
- Civil Engineer — $96,320
- Industrial Engineer — $95,750
- Industrial Engineering Technologist and Technician — $48,830