Data Scientists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,980 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,090 or more. The middle half of data scientists in Knoxville earn between $78,770 and $128,510.
- $62K10th
- $79K25th
- $93KMedian
- $129K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $102,070 | $8,506 | $49.07 |
| Median | $92,640 | $7,720 | $44.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $78,770 | $6,564 | $37.87 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $128,510 | $10,709 | $61.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Data Scientists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Data scientists in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($105,200) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($126,800). At the median the gap is -23% against the U.S. median of $120,230.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $102,070 | $92,640 | $61,980 | $149,090 | 320 |
| Tennessee | $105,200 | $100,330 | $60,200 | $156,160 | 2,790 |
| United States | $126,800 | $120,230 | $67,240 | $199,130 | 262,440 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Data Scientists salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $102,070, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $80,636 a year, or $6,720 a month and $3,101 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for data scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $102,070 buys what about $110,264 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Data Scientists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 3rd of 7 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Memphis pays the most ($110,110).
- Memphis$110,110
- Nashville$109,590
- Knoxville$102,070
- Kingsport$99,030
- Chattanooga$97,460
- Clarksville$87,580
- Johnson City$81,850
Highest-paying cities for data scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($212,760).
- San Jose, CA$212,760
- San Francisco, CA$174,830
- Seattle, WA$160,460
- Idaho Falls, ID$159,110
- Kennewick, WA$157,380
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Data Scientists salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do data scientists make an hour in Knoxville?
$49.07 an hour on average, and $44.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level data scientists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $61,980 a year and the 25th percentile is $78,770, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the data scientists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $80,636 a year ($6,720 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $102,070. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do data scientists earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($126,800).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 15-2051; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.45, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.45).
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