Project Management Specialist Salary in Knoxville, TN
Project Management Specialists in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $91,690 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $73,334 take-home, or $6,111 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median project management specialist salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$11,342
- Social Security (6.2%)$5,685
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,330
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$73,334
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Project Management Specialist pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,660 | $27.72 | $48,510 | $4,042 |
| 25th percentile | $72,730 | $34.97 | $59,996 | $5,000 |
| Median (50th) | $91,690 | $44.08 | $73,334 | $6,111 |
| 75th percentile | $114,730 | $55.16 | $89,543 | $7,462 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,780 | $63.84 | $102,021 | $8,502 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $91,690 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 project management specialist's $73,334 take-home pay has the buying power of $79,221 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 1.3× the national concentration of project management specialist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for project management specialists, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #22 of 64 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $130,380 | $100,381 | $90,325 |
| 2 | Boulder, CO | $122,040 | $90,019 | $85,568 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $135,120 | $93,527 | $84,699 |
| 4 | Des Moines, IA | $101,150 | $76,797 | $83,747 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $127,030 | $90,262 | $82,897 |
| 6 | Colorado Springs, CO | $111,740 | $83,231 | $82,647 |
| 7 | Austin, TX | $102,390 | $80,861 | $82,456 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $101,050 | $76,107 | $82,239 |
| 22 | Knoxville, TN | $91,690 | $73,334 | $79,221 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 64 metros →
About the job: project management specialists
Analyze and coordinate the schedule, timeline, procurement, staffing, and budget of a product or service on a per project basis. Lead and guide the work of technical staff. May serve as a point of contact for the client or customer.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +6.7% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Project Management Specialist salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $85,130
- Nashville, TN — $85,990
Frequently asked questions
How much does a project management specialist make in Knoxville, TN?
The median project management specialist salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $91,690 a year, or about $44.08 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,730 and $114,730.
What is a project management specialist’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $91,690 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $73,334 a year ($6,111 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a project management specialist?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $102,320. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $79,221 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #22 of 64 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a project management specialist 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) — 18% of a median project management specialist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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