Broadcast Technicians Salary
In Knoxville, TN, broadcast technicians earn $55,170 at the median, or about $26.53 an hour. The range runs from $31K at the entry level to $76K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $59,598 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month, about 38.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $55K get you in Knoxville?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Knoxville’s Regional Price Parity (92.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About broadcast technicians
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What this looks like in Knoxville
Broadcast technicians pay in Knoxville tracks closely to the national median, $55K locally vs. $60K nationwide, a 7% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,471/month, which is 38.1% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.57 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for broadcast technicians in metros near Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $45K | $47K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $49K | $49K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $53K | $55K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $51K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level broadcast technicians (10th percentile) start around $31K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $76K or more, a $45K spread from bottom to top.
Broadcast Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Broadcast Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $108K | +82% | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $81K | +36% | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $80K | +35% | 950 |
| New York | $79K | +32% | 1,690 |
| Illinois | $74K | +25% | 690 |
| Colorado | $74K | +24% | 820 |
| Nevada | $73K | +23% | 280 |
| Arizona | $73K | +23% | 530 |
| California | $73K | +22% | 2,340 |
| Florida | $65K | +9% | 1,130 |
| Maryland | $64K | +7% | 460 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | +5% | 410 |
| Washington | $62K | +4% | 270 |
| Connecticut | $59K | -1% | 700 |
| Virginia | $58K | -3% | 710 |
| Maine | $55K | -7% | 90 |
| New Mexico | $50K | -16% | 80 |
| Rhode Island | $50K | -17% | 110 |
| Texas | $49K | -17% | 1,380 |
| Hawaii | $49K | -17% | 70 |
| Ohio | $49K | -18% | 430 |
| North Dakota | $48K | -19% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $48K | -20% | 580 |
| Michigan | $48K | -20% | 580 |
| Tennessee | $47K | -21% | 400 |
| Georgia | $47K | -21% | 440 |
| Alabama | $47K | -21% | 220 |
| Massachusetts | $47K | -21% | 560 |
| South Carolina | $47K | -21% | 210 |
| Iowa | $47K | -21% | 180 |
| Minnesota | $47K | -21% | 330 |
| Montana | $47K | -22% | 60 |
| Idaho | $45K | -25% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $45K | -25% | 240 |
| Louisiana | $44K | -25% | 120 |
| Oregon | $44K | -25% | 220 |
| Indiana | $44K | -25% | 760 |
| Nebraska | $44K | -27% | 160 |
| Arkansas | $42K | -30% | 220 |
| Missouri | $42K | -30% | 300 |
| Kansas | $42K | -30% | 90 |
| Kentucky | $40K | -32% | 230 |
| Wyoming | $39K | -34% | 50 |
| South Dakota | $32K | -46% | 40 |
| Utah | $31K | -47% | 300 |
| Mississippi | $28K | -53% | 60 |
| West Virginia | $27K | -54% | 120 |
Showing 1–10 of 47 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track broadcast technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Knoxville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a broadcast technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 38.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for broadcast technicians in Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new broadcast technicians typically earn — is $31K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,874/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 78% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is broadcast technician a high-paying job in Knoxville?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $55K locally vs. $60K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for broadcast technicians?
Knoxville pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do broadcast technicians make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $55,170 a year, that works out to about $27 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $31,240, and experienced broadcast technicians can clear $75,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,864/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 38.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a broadcast technicians salary go in Knoxville?
Knoxville has a Regional Price Parity of 92.57 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median broadcast technicians salary is worth about $59,598 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do broadcast technicians get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.