Senior Materials Scientist salary in Knoxville, TN
Based on 14 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Ridge.
Also listed as: Research Associate Materials Science
Median salary$124,584
Middle 50%$116.2k–$139.7k
vs. all levels here+42%comparison median $87,703
Filings14FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All levels here
$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k$140k$150k$160k$170k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $103,920 |
| 25th | $116,187 |
| 50th (median) | $124,584 |
| 75th | $139,651 |
| 90th | $151,943 |
Cost of living
Knoxville's median senior Materials Scientist salary of $124,584 is worth about $134,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Knoxville = 92.6).
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Ut-Battelle, Llc (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) | $128,177 | 10 |
| The University Of Tennessee | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $84,048 | 10 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,419 | 46 |
| Senior · Level III | $124,584 | 14 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 6 |
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 | $51,750 | $84,048 | 10 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $70,803 | $87,419 | 46 |
| Senior · Level III | $83,366 | $124,584 | 14 |
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.