Human Resources Specialists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $107,710 or more. The middle half of human resources specialists in Knoxville earn between $58,240 and $83,200.
- $46K10th
- $58K25th
- $67KMedian
- $83K75th
- $108K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,560 | $6,213 | $35.85 |
| Median | $67,370 | $5,614 | $32.39 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $58,240 | $4,853 | $28.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,200 | $6,933 | $40.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Human Resources Specialists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Human resources specialists in Knoxville earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($73,590) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($81,990). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $75,940.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $74,560 | $67,370 | $46,490 | $107,710 | 2,980 |
| Tennessee | $73,590 | $67,370 | $45,630 | $109,990 | 21,460 |
| United States | $81,990 | $75,940 | $47,180 | $128,720 | 912,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Human Resources Specialists salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $74,560, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $61,283 a year, or $5,107 a month and $2,357 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for human resources specialists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $74,560 buys what about $80,545 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Human Resources Specialists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($75,970).
- Nashville$75,970
- Knoxville$74,560
- Memphis$74,330
- Clarksville$73,020
- Kingsport$71,520
- Johnson City$69,200
- Cleveland$69,170
- Jackson$69,050
- Chattanooga$69,010
- Morristown$67,750
Highest-paying cities for human resources specialists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($122,290).
- San Jose, CA$122,290
- San Francisco, CA$113,530
- Washington, DC$105,580
- Lexington Park, MD$104,240
- Boulder, CO$99,420
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Human Resources Specialists salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do human resources specialists make an hour in Knoxville?
$35.85 an hour on average, and $32.39 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level human resources specialists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $58,240, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the human resources specialists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $61,283 a year ($5,107 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,560. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do human resources specialists earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($81,990).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1071; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.20, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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