Plant and System Operators, All Other pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $71,050 or more. The middle half of other plant and system operators in Knoxville earn between $50,690 and $59,140.
- $50K10th
- $51K25th
- $55KMedian
- $59K75th
- $71K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,970 | $4,831 | $27.87 |
| Median | $54,910 | $4,576 | $26.40 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $50,690 | $4,224 | $24.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,140 | $4,928 | $28.43 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Plant and System Operators, All Other pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Other plant and system operators in Knoxville earn 10% less than the Tennessee average ($64,150) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($65,700). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $62,470.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $57,970 | $54,910 | $49,630 | $71,050 | 30 |
| Tennessee | $64,150 | $60,240 | $48,050 | $96,300 | 150 |
| United States | $65,700 | $62,470 | $40,700 | $94,560 | 14,080 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $57,970, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $48,759 a year, or $4,063 a month and $1,875 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% 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 other plant and system operators? 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 $57,970 buys what about $62,624 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 6.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 2nd of 2 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($68,310).
- Nashville$68,310
- Knoxville$57,970
All Plant and System Operators, All Other salaries in Tennessee
Highest-paying cities for other plant and system operators
Sacramento, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($95,910).
- Sacramento, CA$95,910
- Las Vegas, NV$94,340
- Duluth, MN$91,550
- San Jose, CA$89,220
- San Francisco, CA$88,310
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Plant and System Operators, All Other salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do other plant and system operators make an hour in Knoxville?
$27.87 an hour on average, and $26.40 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other plant and system operators salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $50,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other plant and system operators take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $48,759 a year ($4,063 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,970. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do other plant and system operators earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($65,700).
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 51-8099; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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 0.79, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.79).
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