Nuclear Engineers Salary in Knoxville, TN
In Knoxville, TN, nuclear engineers earn $174,380 at the median — $83.84 an hour. Entry-level workers start around $94K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $188,376 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,471/month, or 13.1% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $174K get you in Knoxville?
About nuclear engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level nuclear engineers (10th percentile) start around $94K. Mid-career wages sit at $174K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Nuclear Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $190K | +49% | 240 |
| California | $168K | +31% | 870 |
| New York | $159K | +25% | 160 |
| Maryland | $150K | +18% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $150K | +18% | 190 |
| Nebraska | $149K | +17% | N/A |
| Alabama | $144K | +13% | 270 |
| Massachusetts | $142K | +11% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $140K | +10% | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $138K | +8% | 180 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | +6% | 480 |
| Idaho | $130K | +2% | 720 |
| Illinois | $130K | +2% | 950 |
| Georgia | $130K | +2% | 140 |
| Florida | $129K | +1% | 140 |
Track nuclear engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Knoxville numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do nuclear engineers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $174,380 a year - that works out to about $83.84 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $93,980. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $174K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,828/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 13.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear 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 nuclear engineers salary is worth about $188,376 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear 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.