Electrical Engineer (R&D) salary in Knoxville, TN
Based on 33 certified H-1B filings in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Ridge.
Also listed as: Researcher Iii Electrical Engineering
Median salary$121,008
Middle 50%$96.3k–$130.7k
vs. national median+27%comparison median $95,000
Filings33FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$50k$75k$100k$125k$150k$175k$200k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,659 |
| 25th | $96,336 |
| 50th (median) | $121,008 |
| 75th | $130,699 |
| 90th | $155,399 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | $76,584 | $59,775 | $107,256 | 20 |
| FY2022 | $93,486 | $72,966 | $125,607 | 12 |
| FY2023 | $113,274 | $82,960 | $127,251 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $99,000 | $84,336 | $115,296 | 17 |
| FY2025 | $121,518 | $99,000 | $123,579 | 21 |
| FY2026 | $112,436 | $91,096 | $136,545 | 12 |
Cost of living
Knoxville's median Electrical Engineer (R&D) salary of $121,008 is worth about $130,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Knoxville = 92.6).
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Ut-Battelle, Llc (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) | $121,949 | 26 |
| Electric Power Research Institute | too few | 7 |
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 | $121,263 | 24 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 6 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $68,078 | $121,263 | 24 |
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.