Mid-level Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary in Knoxville, TN
Based on 28 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Ridge.
Also listed as: Researcher Iii Mechanical Engineering
Median salary$121,806
Middle 50%$97k–$129.6k
vs. all levels here−0%comparison median $122,088
Filings28FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All levels here
$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k$140k$150k$160k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $94,778 |
| 25th | $97,041 |
| 50th (median) | $121,806 |
| 75th | $129,570 |
| 90th | $149,286 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 0 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 4 |
| FY2023 | $111,000 | $97,619 | $116,530 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $111,900 | $87,143 | $120,522 | 18 |
| FY2025 | $118,536 | $96,600 | $121,608 | 13 |
| FY2026 | $128,221 | $109,596 | $132,009 | 15 |
Cost of living
Knoxville's median mid-level Mechanical Engineer (R&D) salary of $121,806 is worth about $131,600 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) | $121,806 | 28 |
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.