SOC 29-1127 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Speech-Language Pathologists — Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 9 metro areas compared
In Knoxville, TN the median wage is $78,060.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Knoxville, TN the median wage is $78,060. That is 20.2% lower than the national median of $97,870. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $62,420 and $96,470. The lowest tenth earn under $54,590, while the highest tenth earn more than $108,290.
Employment stands at 400, or 1.0 jobs per thousand held locally. Chattanooga leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $93,740. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 119th of 536 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $54,590 | −44.2% |
| 25th | $62,420 | −36.2% |
| Median (50th) | $78,060 | −20.2% |
| 75th | $96,470 | −1.4% |
| 90th | $108,290 | +10.6% |
| Mean | $79,430 | −18.8% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga | $93,740 | 330 | |
| 2 | Clarksville | $93,370 | 170 | |
| 3 | Memphis | $86,120 | 460 | |
| 4 | Morristown | $85,750 | 40 | |
| 5 | Nashville | $83,780 | 980 | |
| 6 | Johnson City | $82,050 | 140 | |
| 7 | Jackson | $82,000 | 100 | |
| 8 | Kingsport | $78,940 | 160 | |
| 9 | Cleveland | $67,840 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Knoxville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $78,060 goes as far as $84,940 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 13.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$78,060as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$84,940US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $78,060 a year, 20.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $54,590 to $108,290 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 400 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Chattanooga, at $93,740.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Speech-Language Pathologists in Knoxville, TN?
The median annual wage is $78,060, or $37.53 per hour, 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 $97,870, so pay in Knoxville, TN is 20.2% 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 $108,290 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $54,590 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 Chattanooga, at $93,740 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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