SOC 53-6041 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Traffic Technicians — Knoxville
Knoxville, TN · 3 metro areas compared
Median pay in Knoxville, TN is $44,090 a year, 25.4% under the national median of $59,090 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Knoxville, TN is $44,090 a year, 25.4% under the national median of $59,090 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $44,080 and $47,670. The lowest tenth earn under $44,080, while the highest tenth earn more than $60,990.
Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $47,670. Of the 536 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 376th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $44,080 | −25.4% |
| 25th | $44,080 | −25.4% |
| Median (50th) | $44,090 | −25.4% |
| 75th | $47,670 | −19.3% |
| 90th | $60,990 | +3.2% |
| Mean | $47,850 | −19.0% |
Other metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $47,670 | — | |
| 2 | Memphis | $44,780 | 90 | |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $44,690 | 110 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Knoxville run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $44,090 goes as far as $47,976 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 18.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$44,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$47,976US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $44,090 a year, 25.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $44,080 to $60,990 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $47,670.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Traffic Technicians in Knoxville, TN?
The median annual wage is $44,090, or $21.20 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 $59,090, so pay in Knoxville, TN is 25.4% 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 $60,990 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $44,080 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 $47,670 per year.
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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