Nuclear Technicians Salary
In Knoxville, TN, nuclear technicians earn $78,850 at the median, or about $37.91 an hour. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $94K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $85,179 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,471/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $79K 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 nuclear technicians
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What this looks like in Knoxville
Pay for nuclear technicians in Knoxville runs about 28% below the U.S. median of $110K. Rent runs $1,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.6% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. 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 nuclear technicians in metros near Knoxville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta-Richmond County | $108K | $118K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $115K | $117K |
| Birmingham | $127K | $139K |
| Richmond | $122K | $125K |
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 nuclear technicians (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $79K. Top earners bring in $94K or more, a $26K spread from bottom to top.
Nuclear Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Nuclear Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $136K | +23% | 60 |
| New York | $130K | +18% | 260 |
| Pennsylvania | $124K | +13% | 310 |
| Texas | $124K | +13% | 110 |
| Massachusetts | $113K | +3% | 50 |
| North Carolina | $110K | +0% | 420 |
| Illinois | $110K | +0% | 780 |
| Alabama | $110K | +0% | 280 |
| South Carolina | $108K | -2% | 750 |
| Washington | $108K | -2% | 90 |
| Missouri | $105K | -5% | 150 |
| California | $99K | -10% | N/A |
| Virginia | $99K | -10% | 680 |
| Tennessee | $92K | -17% | 110 |
Showing 1–10 of 14 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track nuclear 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 nuclear technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Knoxville?
Yes — at the median salary of $79K, rent takes 27.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for nuclear technicians in Knoxville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new nuclear technicians typically earn — is $68K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,072/month. At HUD’s $1,471/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is nuclear technician a high-paying job in Knoxville?
Local pay runs 28% below the national median — $79K here vs. $110K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Knoxville compare to the national average for nuclear technicians?
Knoxville pays $79K median vs. the U.S. average of $110K — that’s -28%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $85K — below the national median.
How much do nuclear technicians make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $78,850 a year, that works out to about $38 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,870, and experienced nuclear technicians can clear $94,190. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $79K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,321/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 27.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a nuclear 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 nuclear technicians salary is worth about $85,179 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do nuclear 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.