Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Knoxville, TN
Based on 18 certified H-1B filings in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Ridge, Ste 253, Maryville.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $72,268 |
| 25th | $74,600 |
| 50th (median) | $96,628 |
| 75th | $136,575 |
| 90th | $179,941 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,000 | $85,946 | $116,000 | 18 |
| FY2021 | $79,768 | $65,750 | $99,835 | 23 |
| FY2022 | $85,000 | $63,149 | $99,112 | 17 |
| FY2023 | $104,500 | $77,546 | $120,920 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $102,365 | $79,602 | $135,828 | 20 |
| FY2025 | $135,000 | $96,628 | $155,190 | 11 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Knoxville's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $96,628 is worth about $104,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Knoxville = 92.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Knoxville, TN area earned a median of $66,960 in May 2025 (1,370 employed). The H-1B median here is $96,628, 44% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| CGI | too few | 2 |
| Cognizant | too few | 2 |
| U.S. Bank National Association | too few | 2 |
| Cloud Data | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | $136,150 | 10 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert · Level IV | $86,986 | $136,150 | 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.