Software Developer Salary in Knoxville, TN
Software Developers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median $121,750 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $94,481 take-home, or $7,873 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Knoxville, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,955
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,549
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,765
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$94,481
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Software Developer pay by experience in Knoxville, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,880 | $33.12 | $57,287 | $4,774 |
| 25th percentile | $85,080 | $40.90 | $68,684 | $5,724 |
| Median (50th) | $121,750 | $58.53 | $94,481 | $7,873 |
| 75th percentile | $144,990 | $69.71 | $110,367 | $9,197 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,870 | $77.82 | $121,904 | $10,159 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $121,750 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 software developer's $94,481 take-home pay has the buying power of $102,066 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are less concentrated in Knoxville, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.52), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Knoxville, TN ranks #21 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 21 | Knoxville, TN | $121,750 | $94,481 | $102,066 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $125,580
- Nashville, TN — $126,610
- Chattanooga, TN — $106,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Knoxville, TN?
The median software developer salary in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $121,750 a year, or about $58.53 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $85,080 and $144,990.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Knoxville, TN?
On the median $121,750 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $94,481 a year ($7,873 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 7.4% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $102,066 would in a typical U.S. city. Knoxville, TN ranks #21 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 14% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
- Computer Network Architect — $117,480
- Information Security Analyst — $102,210
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $87,400
- Computer Systems Analyst — $85,730
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $66,960
- Computer User Support Specialist — $53,350