Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers Salary in Knoxville, TN
The median pay for a painting, coating, and decorating workers in Knoxville, TN is $40,860/year ($19.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $20K at the entry level to $61K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.57), which stretches that salary to about $44,140 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,471/month — about 50% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $41K 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 painting, coating, and decorating workers
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Knoxville, TN
Entry-level painting, coating, and decorating workers (10th percentile) start around $20K. Mid-career wages sit at $41K. Top earners bring in $61K or more, a $41K spread from bottom to top.
Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $68K | +67% | 510 |
| Washington | $61K | +50% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $52K | +28% | 250 |
| Illinois | $51K | +25% | 50 |
| New Jersey | $51K | +24% | 200 |
| Georgia | $49K | +20% | 150 |
| Kentucky | $48K | +17% | 90 |
| Virginia | $46K | +13% | 260 |
| Maryland | $46K | +12% | 80 |
| New Hampshire | $45K | +11% | N/A |
| Iowa | $45K | +11% | 170 |
| Nebraska | $45K | +11% | 60 |
| Kansas | $45K | +11% | 100 |
| Missouri | $45K | +10% | 200 |
| North Carolina | $45K | +10% | 200 |
| Indiana | $45K | +9% | 390 |
| California | $44K | +9% | 930 |
| Ohio | $44K | +9% | 170 |
| South Carolina | $44K | +7% | 160 |
| Alabama | $43K | +4% | 60 |
| Utah | $42K | +3% | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $42K | +2% | 360 |
| Wisconsin | $40K | -2% | 110 |
| Minnesota | $39K | -5% | 130 |
| Arkansas | $39K | -6% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $38K | -6% | 110 |
| Michigan | $38K | -8% | 270 |
| Louisiana | $37K | -9% | 60 |
| South Dakota | $37K | -10% | 30 |
| Connecticut | $36K | -11% | 80 |
| Arizona | $36K | -12% | N/A |
| Florida | $36K | -13% | 920 |
| Mississippi | $36K | -13% | 160 |
| Tennessee | $36K | -13% | 380 |
| Texas | $29K | -30% | 1,110 |
Showing 1–10 of 35 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track painting, coating, and decorating workers 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 painting, coating, and decorating workers make in Knoxville, TN?
The median is $40,860 a year, that works out to about $20 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $19,980, and experienced painting, coating, and decorating workers can clear $61,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $41K enough to live in Knoxville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,906/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,471/month, which eats 50.6% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a painting, coating, and decorating workers 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 painting, coating, and decorating workers salary is worth about $44,140 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do painting, coating, and decorating workers 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.