Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary in Knoxville, TN
Based on 32 certified H-1B filings in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Ridge.
Also listed as: Researcher Iii Mechanical Engineering
Median salary$122,088
Middle 50%$107.6k–$131k
vs. national median+36%comparison median $90,063
Filings32FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
National median
$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k$140k$150k$160k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $95,287 |
| 25th | $107,637 |
| 50th (median) | $122,088 |
| 75th | $130,985 |
| 90th | $149,777 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 1 |
| FY2021 | $97,100 | $77,369 | $113,123 | 10 |
| FY2022 | $105,000 | $84,485 | $124,005 | 10 |
| FY2023 | $111,000 | $88,874 | $118,672 | 15 |
| FY2024 | $117,600 | $87,900 | $122,463 | 25 |
| FY2025 | $119,600 | $111,120 | $123,000 | 17 |
| FY2026 | $128,221 | $109,596 | $132,009 | 15 |
Cost of living
Knoxville's median Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary of $122,088 is worth about $131,900 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) | $122,088 | 32 |
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 | $121,806 | 28 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $76,190 | $121,806 | 28 |
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.