Predictive Modeling Specialist.
Knoxville.
$126,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$96,000 to $167,000. Last updated April 2026.
Get the job.
Data points to own the conversation.
Knoxville is 11% cheaper than the national average. For Predictive Modeling Specialists, that shakes out to a median of $126,000, with the full range spanning $96,000 to $167,000. Predictive modeling specialists earn salaries driven by the business value of their models and the complexity of domains they work in. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $113,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$82,000
to $101,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$107,000
to $132,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$139,000
to $164,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$158,000
to $195,000
Salary trend
+4% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $28,000 to the total package.
Base
$126,000
Equity
$15,000
Bonus
$10,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $154,000
How Knoxville compares
Knoxville, TN
$126,000
Cost of living: 11% below average
National Average
$145,000
Knoxville is $19,000 below
Predictive Modeling Specialist salary by city
Salary by role in Knoxville
What you should know
The Predictive Modeling 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. Predictive modeling specialists earn salaries driven by the business value of their models and the complexity of domains they work in. Insurance, credit risk, and demand forecasting roles pay the highest premiums. Specialists who can quantify the ROI of their models in dollar terms negotiate 10 to 20% above standard offers.
Junior predictive modelers earn $110,000 to $130,000. Mid-level specialists with domain expertise reach $145,000 to $192,000. Senior modelers and lead scientists earn $200,000 to $260,000, while chief analytics officers and VP-level roles can command $280,000 to $380,000. 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. Financial services firms offer bonuses of 20 to 35% tied to model performance and business impact. Tech companies substitute equity worth 15 to 25% of base salary. Some insurers and lenders offer model performance bonuses based on predictive accuracy improvements. 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 $126,000, 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 Predictive Modeling Specialists in Knoxville runs from $96,000 to $167,000. 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 Conversational AI Designer in Knoxville earns $125,000 (1% less)
- The highest-paying role in Knoxville is Distinguished Engineer at $305,000
Common questions.
Predictive Modeling Specialist salary in other cities
Other salaries in Knoxville
Related
Cite this data
Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.
Want this data on your site? Embed the salary widget — one script tag, free forever.