Technology Knoxville, TN Pop. 190,740

Data Scientist Salary in Knoxville, Tennessee

The median data scientist salary in Knoxville, TN is $95,058 per year, which is 12% below the national median and 1.1% below the Tennessee state average.

City Median
$95,058
vs State Avg
$-1,080
vs National
$-12,962
Cost of Living
88%

Data Scientist Pay in Knoxville: What to Expect (2026)

Knoxville offers a median data scientist salary of $95,058, which is $1,080 below the Tennessee state average of $96,138. Compared to the national median of $108,020, Knoxville pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Knoxville's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $95,058 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $108,020 in an average-cost city. This makes Knoxville an attractive option for data scientists seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data scientists in Knoxville spans from $54,032 at the 10th percentile to $156,816 at the 90th percentile — a $102,784 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $63,360, while senior data scientists with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $145,200. With a population of 190,740, Knoxville is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Scientist Salary in Knoxville by Experience

In Knoxville, an entry-level data scientist earns around $63,360, while experienced professionals earn up to $145,200 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$63,360
$-8,640 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$98,560
$-13,440 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$145,200
$-19,800 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Knoxville, TN

Percentile Knoxville
10th Percentile $54,032
25th Percentile $74,096
Median (50th) $95,058
75th Percentile $124,080
90th Percentile $156,816

Data Scientist Salary in Other Tennessee Cities

Nashville, TN
$108,020
Pop. 689,447
Murfreesboro, TN
$99,378
Pop. 152,769
Chattanooga, TN
$95,058
Pop. 181,099
Memphis, TN
$92,897
Pop. 633,104

How to Become a Data Scientist in Knoxville

Education

Most data scientist positions require a bachelor's degree. Knoxville and the surrounding Tennessee area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonRSQLMachine LearningStatisticsData Visualization

Job Outlook

Nationally, data scientist employment is projected to grow 35% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Knoxville may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Scientist Jobs in Knoxville

Browse open data scientist positions in Knoxville, TN:

Indeed → LinkedIn → ZipRecruiter → Glassdoor →

Frequently Asked Questions: Data Scientist Salary in Knoxville

How much does a Data Scientist make in Knoxville, TN? ▼
The median data scientist salary in Knoxville, Tennessee is $95,058 per year, which is 12% below the national median of $108,020. Salaries range from $54,032 (10th percentile) to $156,816 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Scientist make per hour in Knoxville? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $95,058, a data scientist in Knoxville earns approximately $46 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Knoxville compare to the Tennessee state average for data scientist pay? ▼
Knoxville's median data scientist salary of $95,058 is 1.1% below the Tennessee state average of $96,138. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Knoxville, TN? ▼
Knoxville has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data scientist salary of $95,058 in Knoxville has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data scientist in Knoxville? ▼
Most data scientist positions in Knoxville require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, R, SQL, Machine Learning. The job market is projected to grow 35% nationally over the next decade.