Medical Imaging AI Specialist.

Where do you fall?

Salary trend

Estimated total: $218,000

The Medical Imaging AI Specialist landscape in Knoxville is not what most salary sites will tell you. 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. Deep knowledge of medical image analysis, FDA regulatory pathways, and clinical validation methodologies drives top compensation. Specialists who understand radiology workflows and can navigate the 510(k) or De Novo approval process are extremely rare. Experience with specific modalities like CT, MRI, pathology, or ultrasound AI adds significant premiums.

Junior medical imaging engineers start at $115,000 to $150,000. Mid level specialists with regulatory submission experience earn $170,000 to $215,000. Senior specialists reach $220,000 to $275,000. VP of AI at medical imaging companies can exceed $350,000 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 medical AI startups adds 20 to 40% of total compensation. Performance bonuses of 15 to 25% are standard. Signing bonuses of $25,000 to $75,000 are common. Benefits often include continuing medical education credits and conference travel budgets. 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 $171,000, 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 Medical Imaging AI Specialists in Knoxville runs from $128,000 to $223,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

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