Industrial Engineers Salary
Industrial Engineers in Tennessee make a median of $99,080 a year, or about $47.64 an hour. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $132K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $110,359 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 18.3% 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 $99K get you in Tennessee?
About industrial engineers
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Industrial engineers pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $102K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 18.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 industrial engineers (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $132K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Industrial Engineers salary by metro in Tennessee
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $103K | +3% | 2,000 |
| Memphis | $100K | +1% | 1,540 |
| Chattanooga | $99K | +0% | 930 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $98K | -1% | 280 |
| Morristown | $97K | -2% | 140 |
| Cleveland | $96K | -3% | 120 |
| Knoxville | $96K | -3% | 960 |
| Jackson | $94K | -5% | 200 |
| Clarksville | $91K | -8% | 340 |
| Johnson City | $84K | -15% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track industrial engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a industrial engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 18.7% 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 industrial engineers in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new industrial engineers typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,332/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is industrial engineer a high-paying job in Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $102K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for industrial engineers?
Tennessee pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $102K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do industrial engineers make in Tennessee?
The median is $99,080 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,200, and experienced industrial engineers can clear $132,040. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,507/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 18.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a industrial engineers 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 industrial engineers salary is worth about $110,359 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do industrial engineers 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.