SOC 25-2052 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School — Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 8 metro areas compared
At $60,390, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Knoxville, TN tracks the national median of $65,120 closely.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $60,390, median pay for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Knoxville, TN tracks the national median of $65,120 closely. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $49,860 and $63,420. The lowest tenth earn under $49,860, while the highest tenth earn more than $73,180.
Employment stands at 400, or 0.9 jobs per thousand held locally. Nashville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $65,170. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 212th of 536 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $49,860 | −23.4% |
| 25th | $49,860 | −23.4% |
| Median (50th) | $60,390 | −7.3% |
| 75th | $63,420 | −2.6% |
| 90th | $73,180 | +12.4% |
| Mean | $59,190 | −9.1% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $65,170 | 1,030 | |
| 2 | Memphis | $64,640 | 1,330 | |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $63,220 | 580 | |
| 4 | Johnson City | $62,560 | 80 | |
| 5 | Cleveland | $59,220 | 70 | |
| 6 | Kingsport | $55,380 | 180 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $52,370 | 110 | |
| 8 | Clarksville | $48,440 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Knoxville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $60,390 goes as far as $65,713 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.9% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$60,390as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$65,713US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $60,390 a year, 7.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $49,860 to $73,180 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 400 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $65,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School in Knoxville, TN?
The median annual wage is $60,390, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $65,120, so pay in Knoxville, TN is 7.3% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Knoxville, TN earns more than $73,180 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $49,860 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $65,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 400 jobs in this occupation in Knoxville, TN. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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