How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Knoxville, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs 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 Surgical Tech in Knoxville, Tennessee earns $26.39 per hour, or $54,900 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,575 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,620, and the top 10% of earners make over $63,430.
That pay is 9% below the Tennessee figure of $60,530 and 15% below the national figure of $64,650. Knoxville ranks 7th of 8 metro areas in Tennessee for Surgical Tech pay. About 520 Surgical Techs work in the Knoxville area.
Surgical Tech pay in Knoxville at a glance
- Typical pay is $26.39 an hour, or $54,900 a year.
- That is 9% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,620; the top 10% make over $63,430.
- Typical pay rose +50% from 2015 to 2025, against +59% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Knoxville?
Pay in Knoxville runs from entry-level positions at around $22.89 an hour to more than $30.49 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Knoxville
| Career stage | Knoxville | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $47,620$22.89 an hour | $47,620$22.89 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $51,740$24.88 an hour | $51,310$24.67 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $54,900$26.39 an hour | $60,530$29.10 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $60,580$29.13 an hour | $64,430$30.98 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $63,430$30.49 an hour | $75,920$36.50 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Knoxville area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Knoxville
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Knoxville area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Knoxville was $36,580 a year. By 2025 it had reached $54,900, a change of +50%, compared with +59% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Knoxville compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays Surgical Techs the most in Tennessee at $63,120 a year, $8,220 more than Knoxville. The lowest-paying area in the state is Clarksville at $52,510.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Knoxville | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $63,120 | $30.35 | +15% | 1,120 |
| 2 | Memphis | $61,150 | $29.40 | +11% | 630 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $60,900 | $29.28 | +11% | 380 |
| 4 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $60,500 | $29.09 | +10% | 110 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $59,180 | $28.45 | +8% | 120 |
| 6 | Jackson | $59,090 | $28.41 | +8% | 70 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $54,900 | $26.39 | this city | 520 |
| 8 | Clarksville | $52,510 | $25.24 | -4% | 70 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $60,530
Is Knoxville a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Knoxville earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $54,900 a year, 15% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Knoxville area, about 1.2 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes the local economy more reliant on Surgical Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Knoxville, TN?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Knoxville earns $54,900 a year, or $26.39 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $47,620 and the top 10% earn over $63,430.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Knoxville?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Knoxville is $26.39. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.89, and the top 10% earn over $30.49 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Knoxville?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Knoxville typically offer around $22.89 an hour, or $47,620 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Knoxville higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Knoxville pay is 9% below the Tennessee figure of $60,530 a year, ranking 7th of 8 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $63,120.