Knoxville, TN metro area · BLS May 2025 · Updated

How much does an auto mechanic make in Knoxville, TN?

In the Knoxville, TN metropolitan area, auto mechanics earned a median of $48,540 a year ($23.34 an hour) in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for the metro. BLS counted 2,280 of these jobs there. That is 3% above the $47,080 median for all jobs in the metro. The middle 80% earned between $31,580 and $79,680; these percentiles do not measure years of experience. Applying 2026 federal and Tennessee tax rules to the median leaves an estimated $41,182 in take-home pay.

Auto mechanic pay in Knoxville, TN at a glance

Median salary

$48,540$23.34 per hour · $4,045 monthly · BLS May 2025
10th percentile$31,580$15.19/hr
25th percentile$37,210$17.89/hr
75th percentile$62,410$30.01/hr
90th percentile$79,680$38.31/hr
Jobs in this metro2,280Location quotient 1.19 (U.S. = 1.00)
Against all jobs here3% aboveAll-jobs median $47,080
Against Tennessee3% belowStatewide median $50,290
Against the U.S.4% belowNational median $50,620

Run the numbers on your own pay

Same U.S. tax tables as the rest of the site. Change the salary, state, or filing status.

Auto mechanic salary in Knoxville, TN after taxes

$48,540
$15,000$100,000
Filing status:
Gross salary breakdown$48,540
Net 85%
Fed 8%
FICA 8%
Annual take-home$41,182After all taxes
Monthly deposit$3,432Estimated per month
Biweekly paycheck$1,584Every 2 weeks (26/yr)
Effective tax rate15.2%Total tax burden
Federal income tax$3,645 / yr
Tennessee state income taxNo state wage tax$0
FICA (Social Security & Medicare)$3,713 / yr

Auto mechanics pay range in Knoxville, TN, hourly and yearly

BLS May 2025 estimates for the Knoxville, TN metropolitan statistical area. Monthly and take-home figures are ours, computed from the annual wage.

What auto mechanics earned in the Knoxville, TN metro area, May 2025
PercentileHourlyMonthlyYearlyAfter tax a year (TN)
10th percentile$15.19/hr$2,632$31,580$27,555
25th percentile$17.89/hr$3,101$37,210$32,078
MedianMedian$23.34/hr$4,045$48,540$41,182
75th percentile$30.01/hr$5,201$62,410$52,326
90th percentile$38.31/hr$6,640$79,680$64,885

Is $48,540 a good salary in Knoxville, TN?

It depends on what else people there earn and what things cost. Here is the median for auto mechanics next to both.

Median household income$72,422Census Bureau ACS
Local price level (U.S. = 100)92.67.4% below national average
One paycheck vs. a household67%of area median income

The same job statewide and nationally, and a calculator for your own paycheck.

Auto mechanic pay in Knoxville, TN: common questions

What is the median salary for auto mechanics in Knoxville, TN?

The BLS median annual wage for auto mechanics in the Knoxville, TN metro area was $48,540 in May 2025, about $4,045 a month or $23.34 an hour. Statewide, the Tennessee median for this job is $50,290, so the metro pays 3% below the state.

What is the hourly pay for auto mechanics in Knoxville, TN?

The median hourly wage for auto mechanics in Knoxville, TN was $23.34 in the BLS survey. One in ten earned less than $15.19 an hour and one in ten earned more than $38.31.

How many auto mechanics work in Knoxville, TN?

BLS estimated 2,280 jobs for auto mechanics in the metro in May 2025, or 5.4 of every 1,000 jobs. Its location quotient of 1.19 means the job is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole.

What is the pay range for auto mechanics in Knoxville, TN?

BLS wage estimates for auto mechanics in Knoxville, TN run from $31,580 at the 10th percentile to $37,210 at the 25th, $62,410 at the 75th, and $79,680 at the 90th. These are points in the wage distribution, not experience levels.

How much do auto mechanics take home after taxes in Knoxville, TN?

On a median gross salary of $48,540, an estimated $41,182 lands in net take-home pay per year ($1,584 biweekly) for a single filer claiming the standard deduction in Tennessee in 2026. Total tax withholding equals $7,358 (an effective rate of 15.2%).

How much do auto mechanics make per month in Knoxville, TN?

On the median annual salary of $48,540, gross monthly income is $4,045. After federal, FICA, and Tennessee state income taxes, estimated net take-home pay is $3,432 per month (or $1,584 every two weeks).

Is $48,540 a good salary in Knoxville, TN?

At $48,540, the median salary for auto mechanics is 67% of the Knoxville, TN median household income ($72,422). It is 3% above the $47,080 median for all jobs in the metro. The BEA regional price parity is 92.6, so prices here run 7.4% below the U.S. average.