Can A Truck Driver Afford Rent in Knoxville, TN?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 39.9% of gross income.
Knoxville rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Tennessee state estimate).
About rent and a truck driver salary
Truck driver pay covers comfortable rent in most lower- and mid-cost US metros and stretches thin in the highest-cost ones. Because many drivers can base anywhere along their route, the home-city rent decision has an outsized effect on take-home. At the national-average driver salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,418 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range and which push it out of reach.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Tennessee cities have lower median rent than Knoxville, which improves the affordability math on a truck driver salary:
Compare with full rent data for Knoxville
View full rent data for Knoxville, TN →Frequently asked questions
Can a truck driver afford rent in Knoxville, TN?
Median rent in Knoxville is $1,735 a month. A typical truck driver in Tennessee earns about $52,173 a year, which makes that rent 39.9% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a truck driver afford in Knoxville?
Using the 30% rule, a truck driver salary in Tennessee (~$52,173/yr) supports up to $1,304 a month in rent. Knoxville's current median rent is $1,735/mo, which is $431/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a truck driver work to cover rent in Knoxville?
At an hourly equivalent of about $25 an hour, a truck driver in Tennessee works roughly 69.2 hours a month to cover Knoxville's median rent of $1,735.
Where is rent cheaper than Knoxville for a truck driver?
Nearby Tennessee cities with lower median rent include Goodlettsville ($1,733/mo), Alcoa ($1,732/mo), Lenoir City ($1,732/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a truck driver salary.