Senior People Analytics Engineer.
Knoxville.
$145,000
median salary, 13% below the national average
$113,000 to $188,000. Last updated April 2026.
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Data points to own the conversation.
Here is what Senior People Analytics Engineers actually make in Knoxville: $113,000 at the 25th percentile, $145,000 at the median, and $188,000 at the 75th. That is 13% below the national average. Knoxville benefits from the presence of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the University of Tennessee, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The number on your offer letter will depend on what you bring and how you ask.
Salary range
Where do you fall?
Salary by experience
The gap between entry and lead level is typically $131,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.
Entry (0-2 yrs)
$94,000
to $116,000
Mid (3-5 yrs)
$123,000
to $152,000
Senior (6-9 yrs)
$160,000
to $189,000
Lead (10+ yrs)
$181,000
to $225,000
Salary trend
+7% YoYTotal compensation
Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $32,000 to the total package.
Base
$145,000
Equity
$17,000
Bonus
$12,000
Signing
$3,000
Estimated total: $177,000
How Knoxville compares
Knoxville, TN
$145,000
Cost of living: 11% below average
National Average
$166,000
Knoxville is $21,000 below
Senior People Analytics Engineer salary by city
Salary by role in Knoxville
What you should know
Before you negotiate a Senior People Analytics Engineer offer in Knoxville, understand the terrain. 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. Compensation for Senior People Analytics Engineers is driven by depth of technical specialization, open-source or published work, and the specific technology stack. Signing bonuses near $13K are standard for lateral hires and reset every 2 to 4 years. Within tech-sector Senior People Analytics Engineers specifically, employer tier (FAANG and frontier-AI labs vs mid-stage startups vs traditional enterprise) drives 66%+ variance across the compensation band.
Senior People Analytics Engineers typically progress Junior → Mid → Senior → Staff → Principal over 8 to 12 years, with the Staff+ levels carrying significant technical scope and cross-team influence. The director/VP track diverges around year 8 for those who choose management; IC staff-plus roles keep building technical depth. For Senior People Analytics Engineers specifically, the seniority anchor typically means 7 to 12 years of experience with demonstrated independent scope. 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. Total compensation for Senior People Analytics Engineers includes a meaningful signing bonus near $13K, which resets every 2 to 4 years for lateral hires. Base plus bonus (12% of base at target) forms the bulk of ongoing annual comp; signing bonuses are best thought of as a 4-year amortized component. At tech companies specifically, equity and sign-on are often the largest delta between offers — two roles with matching base can differ by $100K+ at total when equity is included. 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 $145,000, 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 Senior People Analytics Engineers in Knoxville runs from $113,000 to $188,000. 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 Fintech Product Manager in Knoxville earns $146,000 (1% more)
- The highest-paying role in Knoxville is Technical Fellow at $324,000
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