Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other Salary
In Tennessee, engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others earn $58,700 at the median, or about $28.22 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $103K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $65,382 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 29.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $59K get you in Tennessee?
About engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Tennessee
Pay for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other in Tennessee runs about 25% below the U.S. median of $78K. Rent runs $1,215/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Tennessee
Entry-level engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $103K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other salary by metro in Tennessee
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarksville | $84K | +43% | 40 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $82K | +40% | 70 |
| Chattanooga | $62K | +5% | 140 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $58K | -1% | 310 |
| Memphis | $56K | -4% | 120 |
| Knoxville | $46K | -22% | 150 |
Compare to other states
Track engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
Can a engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 29.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,539/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 48% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Local pay runs 25% below the national median — $59K here vs. $78K nationally. Cost of living is 10% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others?
Tennessee pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $78K — that’s -25%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others make in Tennessee?
The median is $58,700 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,320, and experienced engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others can clear $102,810. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,100/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 29.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary go in Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all other salary is worth about $65,382 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all others 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.