Software Developer salary in Knoxville, TN
Software Developers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $121,750 a year ($58.53 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,390 workers.
Pay ranges from $68,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,870 for the top 10%. That is 10% lower than the national median of $135,980. Pay here is 1% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $122,430. There are 5.6 software developers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.52). The average (mean) salary is $118,450, close to the median.
Pay range for software developers in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $68,880 | $33.12 |
| 25th percentile | $85,080 | $40.90 |
| Median | $121,750 | $58.53 |
| 75th percentile | $144,990 | $69.71 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,870 | $77.82 |
| Average (mean) | $118,450 | $56.95 |
Half of software developers 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 | $10,145.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,072.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,682.69 |
| Weekly | $2,341.35 |
| Hourly | $58.53 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Software Developer salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $126,610 | 7,750 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $125,580 | 2,270 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $115,310 | 430 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $106,750 | 990 |
| Johnson City, TN | $103,320 | 300 |
| Cleveland, TN | $102,600 | 110 |
| Morristown, TN | $102,390 | 50 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $96,650 | 310 |
| Jackson, TN | $96,540 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for software developers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| California | $174,410 |
| Washington | $166,540 |
| New York | $166,180 |
| Massachusetts | $165,210 |
| Oregon | $142,720 |
| New Hampshire | $139,720 |
| Maryland | $138,680 |
| Colorado | $138,390 |
| District of Columbia | $136,880 |
| Virginia | $136,460 |
See Software Developer pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Data Scientist | $92,640 | $44.54 |
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 15-1252. 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 software developer make in Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for software developers in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $121,750 a year, or $58.53 an hour. Pay ranges from $68,880 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,870 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid software developers make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of software developers in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $161,870 a year. The top 25% earn $144,990 or more.
What is the starting pay for software developers in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $68,880 a year, and a quarter of software developers earn $85,080 or less.
How many software developers work in Knoxville, TN?
About 2,390 software developers are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.