Mid-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Knoxville, TN

Based on 46 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Oak Ridge, Farragut.

Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher

Median salary$135,945
Middle 50%$120.6k–$146.2k
vs. all levels here−0%comparison median $136,068
Filings46FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $89,611 and $194,210.
PercentileSalary
10th$94,679
25th$120,576
50th (median)$135,945
75th$146,230
90th$163,093

Salary by year

Median salary

$100k $125k $150k FY2020: median $112,008 (13 filings) FY2021: median $111,359 (16 filings) FY2022: median $113,004 (39 filings) FY2023: median $124,521 (21 filings) FY2024: median $117,492 (20 filings) FY2025: median $127,232 (31 filings) FY2026: median $140,196 (15 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 13 filings FY20 FY2021: 16 filings FY21 FY2022: 39 filings FY22 FY2023: 21 filings FY23 FY2024: 20 filings FY24 FY2025: 31 filings FY25 FY2026: 15 filings FY26 39
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$112,008$109,008$114,11013
FY2021$111,359$92,314$117,57216
FY2022$113,004$88,884$119,28139
FY2023$124,521$116,526$129,00021
FY2024$117,492$90,324$132,93120
FY2025$127,232$99,384$146,76231
FY2026$140,196$131,874$145,67715

Cost of living

Knoxville's median mid-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $135,945 is worth about $146,900 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Knoxville = 92.6).

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Ut-Battelle, Llc (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)$136,06845

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I – 0
Mid-level · Level II $135,945 46
Senior · Level III too few 4
Expert · Level IV – 0

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Mid-level · Level II$77,667$135,94546

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.