Data Scientist salary in Knoxville, TN
Data Scientists in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $92,640 a year ($44.54 an hour), based on BLS data for 320 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,090 for the top 10%. That is 23% lower than the national median of $120,230. Pay here is 8% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $100,330. There are 0.76 data scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.45). The average (mean) salary is $102,070, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for data scientists in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,980 | $29.80 |
| 25th percentile | $78,770 | $37.87 |
| Median | $92,640 | $44.54 |
| 75th percentile | $128,510 | $61.78 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $149,090 | $71.68 |
| Average (mean) | $102,070 | $49.07 |
Half of data scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,720 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,860 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,563.08 |
| Weekly | $1,781.54 |
| Hourly | $44.54 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Data Scientist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $103,020 | 1,360 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $102,220 | 410 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $98,470 | 90 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $91,340 | 200 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $79,200 | 50 |
| Johnson City, TN | $69,330 | 30 |
Highest-paying states for data scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Washington | $163,350 |
| California | $141,590 |
| Maryland | $136,370 |
| New Jersey | $135,280 |
| Massachusetts | $131,750 |
| New York | $130,460 |
| Minnesota | $128,800 |
| Vermont | $127,070 |
| District of Columbia | $126,490 |
| Virginia | $126,430 |
See Data Scientist pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $121,750 | $58.53 |
| Computer User Support Specialist | $53,350 | $25.65 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | $66,960 | $32.19 |
| Computer Systems Analyst | $85,730 | $41.22 |
| Network and Computer Systems Administrators | $87,400 | $42.02 |
| Computer Network Architect | $117,480 | $56.48 |
| Information Security Analyst | $102,210 | $49.14 |
| Computer Network Support Specialist | $76,820 | $36.93 |
| Web and Digital Interface Designers | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers | $85,970 | $41.33 |
| Web Developer | $80,710 | $38.80 |
| Computer Programmer | $66,760 | $32.09 |
| Database Architect | $101,090 | $48.60 |
More: Computer and Mathematical Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 15-2051. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a data scientist make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for data scientists in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $92,640 a year, or $44.54 an hour. Pay ranges from $61,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $149,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid data scientists make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of data scientists in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $149,090 a year. The top 25% earn $128,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for data scientists in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,980 a year, and a quarter of data scientists earn $78,770 or less.
How many data scientists work in Knoxville, TN?
About 320 data scientists are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.