EngineeringUpdated Q1 2025No state income tax

Quality Engineer Salary
in Knoxville, TN

Develop quality management systems and processes to ensure products meet specifications. Median salary in Knoxville: $79K/year. Data from BLS, O*NET, and H-1B disclosures.

Median salary
$79K
per year
Take-home: $56K

Salary range in Knoxville

Entry level (25th)$59,000
Median (50th)$79,000
Senior (75th)$104,000
Top earner (90th)$133,000

Source: BLS OES 2026, H-1B DOL Disclosures Q1 2026. Figures represent annual base salary in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Key facts for Knoxville

Median salary
$79K
annual
Take-home pay
$56K
after fed/state tax
COL index
85
100 = US avg
State income tax
None
Texas advantage!
Avg 1BR rent
$1,150
per month
YoY growth
+3%
salary trend

Salary forecast: Knoxville Quality Engineer to 2030

Based on BLS 2022–2032 Employment Projections and WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025. At current growth rates, median salary reaches $79K by 2030.

Salary trend & forecast — Knoxville

Historical (2019–2025) + projected to 2030 based on BLS growth rates

HistoricalProjected
Quality Engineer salary trend 2019–2030PROJECTED →$66K$72K$78K$83K$89K201920212023202520272029
2026
$81K
projected
2027
$83K
projected
2028
$85K
projected
2029
$87K
projected
2030
$89K
projected

Projections based on BLS Employment Projections 2022–2032 CAGR and WEF Jobs Report 2025. Not financial advice.

YearProjected median salaryvs today
2027 projected$79,000+$0
2028 projected$79,000+$0
2029 projected$79,000+$0
2030 projected$79,000+$0

Projections use compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from BLS occupational outlook data. Actual salaries may vary.

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Quality Engineer Salary in Knoxville, Tennessee: Complete Guide (2026)

The median Quality Engineer salary in Knoxville, TN is $79,000 per year as of Q1 2025. This figure represents the midpoint of all reported compensation for this role in the Knoxville–TN metropolitan area, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics, H-1B visa disclosures from the Department of Labor, and O*NET occupational data.

Salary range for Quality Engineer in Knoxville

Entry-level Quality Engineers in Knoxville with 0–2 years of experience typically earn between $59,000 and $79,000 annually. Mid-career professionals with 3–7 years command $79,000 to $104,000, while senior-level practitioners with 8+ years of experience regularly earn $104,000 to $133,000 or more.

Cost of living in Knoxville for Quality Engineers

Knoxville has a cost of living index of 85 compared to the US national average of 100. This means your salary goes approximately 15% further in Knoxville than the national average. Crucially, Tennessee has no state income tax — giving Knoxville-based Quality Engineers an immediate 3–5% take-home pay advantage over workers in states like California (9.3%) or New York (6.85%).

Education requirements for Quality Engineer

Bachelor's in Engineering; Six Sigma, ASQ certifications. 25% of these roles offer some remote flexibility.

Quality Engineer salary in nearby cities

CityMedian salaryCOL index
Knoxville (current)$79K85
Nashville102
Memphis82
Chattanooga88
Clarksville82