Materials Engineers Salary in Knoxville, TN
The median pay for a materials engineers in Knoxville, TN is $121,390/year ($58.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $131,133 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,471/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $121K 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.
About materials engineers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level materials engineers (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $121K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Materials Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $141K | +30% | 1,240 |
| Maryland | $131K | +21% | 960 |
| Delaware | $128K | +18% | 50 |
| California | $128K | +18% | 2,760 |
| Oregon | $127K | +18% | 90 |
| New York | $122K | +13% | 750 |
| Alaska | $121K | +11% | 70 |
| Texas | $116K | +7% | 1,730 |
| Wyoming | $114K | +6% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $111K | +3% | 1,060 |
| South Carolina | $111K | +2% | 440 |
| Alabama | $110K | +2% | 660 |
| Tennessee | $109K | +0% | 550 |
| Arizona | $108K | -0% | 380 |
| Minnesota | $106K | -2% | 180 |
| Virginia | $106K | -2% | 620 |
| Ohio | $106K | -2% | 1,770 |
| Illinois | $106K | -2% | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $106K | -2% | 70 |
| Kentucky | $105K | -3% | 340 |
| Connecticut | $104K | -4% | 400 |
| Florida | $104K | -4% | 680 |
| Idaho | $102K | -6% | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $101K | -7% | 230 |
| Louisiana | $101K | -7% | 80 |
| Montana | $101K | -7% | 180 |
| Arkansas | $100K | -7% | 110 |
| New Jersey | $100K | -7% | 290 |
| Missouri | $99K | -8% | 270 |
| Indiana | $98K | -9% | 470 |
| West Virginia | $98K | -10% | 50 |
| Nevada | $98K | -10% | 110 |
| Georgia | $97K | -10% | 550 |
| Kansas | $97K | -10% | 260 |
| Michigan | $97K | -11% | 1,030 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -11% | 320 |
| North Carolina | $96K | -12% | 770 |
| Vermont | $93K | -14% | 40 |
| Rhode Island | $92K | -15% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $91K | -16% | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $89K | -18% | 780 |
| Maine | $89K | -18% | 110 |
| Utah | $86K | -21% | 490 |
| Nebraska | $85K | -22% | 140 |
| Iowa | $77K | -29% | 310 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track materials engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Knoxville numbers change.
Related careers in Engineering
Frequently asked questions
How much do materials engineers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $121,390 a year, that works out to about $58 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $72,730, and experienced materials engineers can clear $165,370. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $121K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,810/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 18.8% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a materials engineers 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 materials engineers salary is worth about $131,133 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do materials 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.