How Much Does a CNA Make in Knoxville, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for CNAs in Knoxville, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Knoxville metro area
A typical CNA in Knoxville, Tennessee earns $18.27 per hour, or $38,000 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $3,167 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $31,140, and the top 10% of earners make over $43,450.
That pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $37,990 and 10% below the national figure of $42,260. Knoxville ranks 4th of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for CNA pay. About 3,860 CNAs work in the Knoxville area.
CNA pay in Knoxville at a glance
- Typical pay is $18.27 an hour, or $38,000 a year.
- That is right at the Tennessee figure, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $31,140; the top 10% make over $43,450.
- Typical pay rose +63% from 2015 to 2025, against +70% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a CNA make in Knoxville?
Pay in Knoxville runs from entry-level positions at around $14.97 an hour to more than $20.89 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
CNA pay by career stage in Knoxville
| Career stage | Knoxville | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $31,140$14.97 an hour | $31,110$14.96 an hour | $33,940$16.32 an hour |
| First years | $34,620$16.65 an hour | $35,560$17.09 an hour | $37,260$17.91 an hour |
| Typical CNA | $38,000$18.27 an hour | $37,990$18.27 an hour | $42,260$20.32 an hour |
| Experienced | $38,740$18.63 an hour | $40,880$19.66 an hour | $47,220$22.70 an hour |
| Top 10% | $43,450$20.89 an hour | $44,660$21.47 an hour | $51,980$24.99 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Knoxville area as BLS defines it
CNA pay growth in Knoxville
Typical (median) annual wage for CNAs in the Knoxville area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical CNA pay in Knoxville was $23,270 a year. By 2025 it had reached $38,000, a change of +63%, compared with +70% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Knoxville compares with other Tennessee cities
Nashville pays CNAs the most in Tennessee at $39,510 a year, $1,510 more than Knoxville. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jackson at $36,900.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Knoxville | CNAs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $39,510 | $18.99 | +4% | 7,420 |
| 2 | Chattanooga | $38,790 | $18.65 | +2% | 2,420 |
| 3 | Memphis | $38,010 | $18.27 | 0% | 4,930 |
| 4 | Knoxville | $38,000 | $18.27 | this city | 3,860 |
| 5 | Morristown | $37,620 | $18.09 | -1% | 350 |
| 6 | Kingsport metro incl. Bristol | $37,550 | $18.05 | -1% | 1,400 |
| 7 | Clarksville | $37,320 | $17.94 | -2% | 620 |
| 8 | Johnson City | $37,310 | $17.94 | -2% | 1,390 |
| 9 | Cleveland | $37,130 | $17.85 | -2% | 440 |
| 10 | Jackson | $36,900 | $17.74 | -3% | 1,080 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with CNA wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $37,990
Is Knoxville a good place to work as a CNA?
CNAs in Knoxville earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $38,000 a year, 10% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Knoxville area, about 9.1 are CNA positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 9.3. CNA jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CNA make in Knoxville, TN?
- A typical CNA in Knoxville earns $38,000 a year, or $18.27 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $31,140 and the top 10% earn over $43,450.
- How much does a CNA make an hour in Knoxville?
- Typical hourly pay for CNAs in Knoxville is $18.27. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $14.97, and the top 10% earn over $20.89 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a CNA in Knoxville?
- Entry-level CNA positions in Knoxville typically offer around $14.97 an hour, or $31,140 a year.
- Is CNA pay in Knoxville higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Knoxville pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $37,990 a year, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state. Nashville pays the most in Tennessee at $39,510.