Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education Salary in Knoxville, TN
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $63,130 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $52,905 take-home, or $4,409 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$5,396
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,914
- Medicare (1.45%)$915
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$52,905
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $50,380 | $24.22 | $42,660 | $3,555 |
| 25th percentile | $50,530 | $24.29 | $42,781 | $3,565 |
| Median (50th) | $63,130 | $30.35 | $52,905 | $4,409 |
| 75th percentile | $73,740 | $35.45 | $60,706 | $5,059 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $77,070 | $37.05 | $63,049 | $5,254 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $63,130 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education's $52,905 take-home pay has the buying power of $57,152 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education jobs are about as common in Knoxville, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.97).
Best-paying cities for secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #46 of 84 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Seattle, WA | $102,670 | $81,058 | $72,938 |
| 2 | Fresno, CA | $100,750 | $73,258 | $71,710 |
| 3 | Bakersfield, CA | $99,150 | $72,302 | $71,667 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $98,970 | $73,701 | $71,144 |
| 5 | Sacramento, CA | $105,060 | $75,833 | $71,091 |
| 6 | San Jose, CA | $108,230 | $77,727 | $70,390 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $92,110 | $70,792 | $69,559 |
| 8 | Akron, OH | $81,820 | $64,923 | $69,533 |
| 46 | Knoxville, TN | $63,130 | $52,905 | $57,152 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 84 metros →
About the job: secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -0.2% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $62,230
- Nashville, TN — $64,710
Frequently asked questions
How much does a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education make in Knoxville, TN?
The median secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $63,130 a year, or about $30.35 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $50,530 and $73,740.
What is a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $63,130 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $52,905 a year ($4,409 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $72,040. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $57,152 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #46 of 84 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical 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 secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.