Expert Software Engineer salary in Knoxville, TN
Based on 14 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Knoxville, TN metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Maryville, Alcoa, Oak Ridge, Knoxville,, Clinton.
Also listed as: Software Developer, Software Development Engineer, SDE
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $127,629 |
| 25th | $127,629 |
| 50th (median) | $135,574 |
| 75th | $155,637 |
| 90th | $160,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $115,000 | $99,419 | $124,987 | 19 |
| FY2021 | $106,433 | $99,299 | $111,214 | 22 |
| FY2022 | $118,830 | $101,453 | $123,458 | 18 |
| FY2023 | $135,907 | $127,857 | $160,000 | 12 |
| FY2024 | $140,000 | $129,683 | $170,500 | 15 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 6 |
Cost of living
Knoxville's median expert Software Engineer salary of $135,574 is worth about $146,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Knoxville = 92.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Software Developers in the Knoxville, TN area earned a median of $121,750 in May 2025 (2,390 employed). The H-1B median here is $135,574, 11% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Discovery Communications | too few | 2 |
| Lirio | too few | 2 |
| Scripps Networks | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $79,830 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $97,282 | 32 |
| Senior · Level III | $120,000 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $135,574 | 14 |
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 | $74,526 | $79,830 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $97,282 | $97,282 | 32 |
| Senior · Level III | $109,928 | $120,000 | 15 |
| Expert · Level IV | $127,629 | $135,574 | 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.