Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Knoxville, TN: $127,600 (2026)

Site Reliability Engineer Pay in Knoxville: What to Expect (2026)

Knoxville offers a median site reliability engineer salary of $127,600, which is $1,450 below the Tennessee state average of $129,050. Compared to the national median of $145,000, 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 $127,600 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $145,000 in an average-cost city. This makes Knoxville an attractive option for site reliability engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for site reliability engineers in Knoxville spans from $77,440 at the 10th percentile to $193,600 at the 90th percentile — a $116,160 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $80,960, while senior site reliability engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $184,800. With a population of 190,740, Knoxville is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Knoxville by Experience

In Knoxville, an entry-level site reliability engineer earns around $80,960, while experienced professionals earn up to $184,800 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)

$80,960

$-11,040 vs national

Mid Level (3-7 yrs)

$130,240

$-17,760 vs national

Senior Level (8+ yrs)

$184,800

$-25,200 vs national

Percentile	Knoxville	TN State	National
10th Percentile	$77,440	$78,320	$88,000
25th Percentile	$101,200	$102,350	$115,000
Median (50th)	$127,600	$129,050	$145,000
75th Percentile	$162,800	$164,650	$185,000
90th Percentile	$193,600	$195,800	$220,000

Percentile

Knoxville

10th Percentile

$77,440

25th Percentile

$101,200

Median (50th)

$127,600

75th Percentile

$162,800

90th Percentile

$193,600

How to Become a Site Reliability Engineer in Knoxville

Education

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

Key Skills

LinuxKubernetesTerraformPythonMonitoring ToolsIncident Response

Job Outlook

Nationally, site reliability engineer employment is projected to grow 22% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Knoxville may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Frequently Asked Questions: Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Knoxville

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make in Knoxville, TN? ▼

The median site reliability engineer salary in Knoxville, Tennessee is $127,600 per year, which is 12% below the national median of $145,000. Salaries range from $77,440 (10th percentile) to $193,600 (90th percentile).

How much does a Site Reliability Engineer make per hour in Knoxville? ▼

Based on the median annual salary of $127,600, a site reliability engineer in Knoxville earns approximately $61 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.

How does Knoxville compare to the Tennessee state average for site reliability engineer pay? ▼

Knoxville's median site reliability engineer salary of $127,600 is 1.1% below the Tennessee state average of $129,050. 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 site reliability engineer salary of $127,600 in Knoxville has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.

What qualifications do I need to become a site reliability engineer in Knoxville? ▼

Most site reliability engineer positions in Knoxville require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Linux, Kubernetes, Terraform, Python. The job market is projected to grow 22% nationally over the next decade.

Site Reliability Engineer Salary in Knoxville, Tennessee