LiDAR AI Engineer.
Knoxville.
$155,000
median salary, 14% below the national average
$117,000 to $203,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
The median LiDAR AI Engineer salary in Knoxville is $155,000, 14% below the national average. Entry level starts near $117,000. Experienced professionals push past $203,000. Knoxville benefits from the presence of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. That spread is your negotiation window.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $139,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$101,000
to $124,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$132,000
to $163,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$171,000
to $202,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$194,000
to $240,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $36,000 to the total package.
Base
$155,000
Equity
$20,000
Bonus
$13,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $191,000
How Knoxville compares
Knoxville, TN
$155,000
Cost of living: 11% below average
National Average
$180,000
Knoxville is $25,000 below
LiDAR AI Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Knoxville
What you should know
If you are interviewing for LiDAR AI Engineer roles in Knoxville, here is what you are walking into. Knoxville benefits from the presence of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The national lab drives strong demand for research scientists, engineers, and data analysts. No state income tax and affordable living make it an attractive value proposition. Expertise in 3D point cloud processing, sparse convolution networks, and LiDAR specific perception algorithms drives compensation. Engineers who can build real time 3D detection and segmentation systems for autonomous vehicles or robotics command top pay. Experience with sensor fusion combining LiDAR with cameras and radar adds significant salary premiums.
Junior LiDAR perception engineers start at $108,000 to $140,000. Mid level engineers with AV perception experience earn $158,000 to $200,000. Senior engineers reach $205,000 to $258,000. Principal perception scientists at autonomous vehicle companies can exceed $340,000 in total compensation with equity. In Knoxville, your dollars stretch further. Cost of living runs 11% below the national average, which means even a median salary buys a stronger lifestyle.
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity at autonomous vehicle and robotics companies adds 20 to 40% of total compensation. Performance bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $60,000 are common. Benefits often include vehicle testing perks and hardware lab access. And on the tax side: tennessee has no state income tax on wages. Knoxville has no city income tax. This zero income tax environment combined with very affordable housing creates excellent purchasing power. When someone quotes you $155,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight Oak Ridge National Lab and DOE experience. National lab affiliations and security clearances command significant premiums in the Knoxville area. The range for LiDAR AI Engineers in Knoxville runs from $117,000 to $203,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology
Considering a related role?
- A NLP Engineer in Knoxville earns $154,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Knoxville is Distinguished Engineer at $305,000
Common questions.
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