Entry-level Biochemist salary in Knoxville, TN
Based on 10 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Ridge.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $66,497 |
| 25th | $70,387 |
| 50th (median) | $80,233 |
| 75th | $82,908 |
| 90th | $84,785 |
Cost of living
Knoxville's median entry-level Biochemist salary of $80,233 is worth about $86,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Knoxville = 92.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Biochemists and Biophysicists in the Knoxville, TN area earned a median of $149,140 in May 2025 (30 employed). The H-1B median here is $80,233, 46% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Ut-Battelle, Llc (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) | too few | 6 |
| The University Of Tennessee | too few | 4 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $80,233 | 10 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $53,269 | $80,233 | 10 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.