Chattanooga Hourly Wage & Salary 2026
Chattanooga, TN: $22.45/hr median hourly wage, $46,700 median annual salary, cost of living index 88, and $7.25/hr minimum wage. Calculate take-home pay with federal and Tennessee taxes.
Chattanooga Hourly Wage Quick Answer
The median hourly wage in Chattanooga, TN is $22.45/hr,and the median annual wage is $46,700. Entry-level pay estimates around $13.92/hr, senior-level pay estimates around $31.88/hr, and the local minimum wage is $7.25/hr.
Median figures: BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan statistical area (268,750 jobs). BLS publishes wages by metro area, not by city, so Chattanooga shares this figure with the rest of its metro. Entry and senior levels are Salario estimates.
Median Salary
$46,700
$22.45/hr
Cost of Living
88
US avg = 100
Minimum Wage
$7.25
per hour
Unemployment
2.8%
rate
Chattanooga, TN Overview
Population
181,099
Median Salary
$46,700
Average Salary
$58,680
Avg Commute
21 min
Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Rent
$1,100/mo
Job Growth
+2.2%
Sales Tax
9.25%
Chattanooga is located in Tennessee with a population of 181,099. The median annual wage across all occupations is $46,700 ($22.45/hour, BLS OEWS May 2025, Chattanooga, TN-GA metro), which is $4,280 below the national median of $50,980. The national median is the BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations median annual wage. The average commute time is 21 minutes, and the city has a job growth rate of +2.2%.
Chattanooga Salary by Experience Level (2026)
Wage distribution in Chattanooga, TN built around the $46,700 median salary (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chattanooga, TN-GA metro). Entry-level represents 10th–25th percentile; mid-level is the median; senior-level represents 75th–90th percentile. The non-median rows are Salario estimates.
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage | Years Exp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | $28,954 | $13.92/hr | 0–2 years |
| Mid-Level (Median) | $46,700 | $22.45/hr | 3–7 years |
| Senior-Level | $66,314 | $31.88/hr | 8–15 years |
| Top 10% (90th Percentile) | $83,126 | $39.96/hr | 15+ years / leadership |
Percentile multipliers (62%, 100%, 142%, 178%) are Salario approximations of the typical all-occupations wage spread in BLS OEWS metro tables; only the median row is a published BLS value. Specific roles vary; see jobs by city for role-specific data.
Chattanooga Paycheck Calculator
Enter your annual salary to see your estimated take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN, after federal, state, and local taxes.
Estimated Annual Take-Home Pay
$39,703
$3,308.62/month · $1,527.06/biweekly · Effective Rate: 15.0%
Biweekly paycheck estimate: this salary equals about $1,527.06 take-home per paycheck after estimated Tennessee and federal taxes. For the 26-paycheck formula, three-paycheck months, and withholding examples, see the Biweekly Paycheck Calculator.
Gross Pay
$46,700
Federal Tax
-$3,424
State Tax
$0
Local Tax
$0
FICA
-$3,573
Net Pay
$39,703
Pay Breakdown
| Item | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | $3,891.67 | $46,700.00 |
| Federal Income Tax | -$285.33 | -$3,424.00 |
| Tennessee State Tax (0.00% eff.) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | -$241.28 | -$2,895.40 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | -$56.43 | -$677.15 |
| Net Take-Home Pay | $3,308.62 | $39,703.45 |
Salary Comparison: Chattanooga vs Other Cities
See how Chattanooga's median salary and cost of living compare to the national average and similar cities.
| City | Median Salary | COL Index | Adj. Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN | $46,700 | 88 | $53,068 |
| National Average | $50,980 | 100 | $50,980 |
| Dover, DE | $46,690 | 96 | $48,635 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $46,670 | 103 | $45,311 |
| Henderson, NV | $46,670 | 108 | $43,213 |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $46,670 | 95 | $49,126 |
Adjusted salary reflects purchasing power when cost of living is factored in. A higher adjusted salary means your money goes further.
Cost of Living in Chattanooga
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 88 (national average = 100). Living in Chattanooga is 12% less expensive than the national average.
Median Home Price
$260,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,100
Annual Rent Cost
$13,200
Your Salary's Purchasing Power
Your $39,703 annual take-home pay in Chattanooga has the purchasing power of approximately $45,118 in an average-cost US area. Your $46,700 salary stretches further here than in most US cities.
Top Industries in Chattanooga
Chattanooga's economy is driven by these key industries. Workers in top industries often earn significantly above the median salary of $46,700.
Salary Tips for Chattanooga Workers
- Your salary goes further here. Chattanooga has a cost of living 12% below the national average. A salary of $46,700 here has the purchasing power of about $53,068 in an average-cost area.
- No state income tax advantage. Tennessee has no state income tax, which means more of your paycheck stays in your pocket. Invest the savings in a Roth IRA or 401(k) for long-term growth.
- Research top industries. Chattanooga's top industries include Technology, Manufacturing, Tourism. Targeting roles in these sectors can help you earn above the $46,700 median salary.
- Review your W-4 withholding. If you regularly receive large tax refunds, adjust your W-4 to increase your per-paycheck take-home pay instead of giving the government an interest-free loan.
Other Cities in Tennessee
Clarksville
Cleveland
Collierville
Columbia
Cookeville
Franklin
Gallatin
Germantown
Hendersonville
Jackson
Johnson City
Kingsport
Methodology & Local Economy Data Sources
How we calculate Chattanooga salary data: The median annual wage, median hourly wage and mean wage are the official BLS OEWS May 2025 all-occupations values for the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan statistical area, retrieved from the BLS Public Data API on September 17, 2026. BLS does not publish city-level wages, so every city inside that metro shows the same figure. The entry/senior/top-10% rows, the paycheck estimate and the purchasing-power conversion are Salario calculations built on that median. Cost-of-living adjustments use the C2ER Cost of Living Index baseline of 100 (national average), with Chattanooga indexed at 88.
- Median salary: $46,700 annual, $22.45 hourly, BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chattanooga, TN-GA MSA (268,750 jobs surveyed). Mean wage $58,680 (BLS). Salario's previous modeled median for Chattanooga was $55,000.
- Tax burden reflects Tennessee 2026 state income tax brackets and standard deduction (top rate 0%) (no local income tax), sales tax (9.25%), and federal taxes per IRS 2026 brackets.
- Unemployment rate for Chattanooga: 2.8%, sourced from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS).
- Top industries: Technology, Manufacturing, Tourism, based on QCEW employment concentration data.
- Job growth: 2.2% projected through 2034, derived from BLS Employment Projections program for Tennessee.
- Housing context: median home price $260,000, median rent $1,100/mo, sourced from Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
Authoritative US data sources for Chattanooga, TN:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), metropolitan area salary data
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, Chattanooga unemployment rate
- U.S. Census Bureau, Chattanooga QuickFacts, population, housing, demographics
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), county-level industry employment
- BLS Economy at a Glance, Tennessee, state economic indicators
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), local GDP and personal income data
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation tracking
Disclaimer: Salary and cost data are estimates for general guidance. Individual compensation varies by employer, experience, education, negotiation, and skills. Chattanooga's rapidly changing economy can shift these baselines, always verify with current job listings, employer offers, and recent Tennessee labor market reports for the most current figures.
Reviewed by Harlan Voss · Last updated September 17, 2026 · Wage figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 release (published May 2026) · Census data current as of latest releases
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the hourly wage in Chattanooga, TN?
The median hourly wage in Chattanooga, TN is $22.45 per hour, the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for all occupations in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan area, and the BLS median annual wage is $46,700. Entry-level workers are estimated around $13.92/hr, while senior-level workers are estimated around $31.88/hr before overtime, bonuses, or benefits (Salario estimates, not BLS percentiles).
What is the median salary in Chattanooga, TN?
The median salary in Chattanooga, TN is $46,700 per year, or $22.45 per hour (BLS OEWS May 2025, all occupations, Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area). The BLS mean salary is $58,680. This is $4,280 below the BLS national median of $50,980.
What is the cost of living in Chattanooga, TN?
Chattanooga's cost of living index is 88 (national average = 100), meaning it is 12% less expensive compared to the national average. The median home price is $260,000 and the median monthly rent is $1,100.
What are the best industries in Chattanooga?
The top industries in Chattanooga, TN include Technology, Manufacturing, Tourism. The city has a job growth rate of 2.2% and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. Workers in these industries often earn above the city's median salary of $46,700.
How does Chattanooga's salary compare to other cities?
Chattanooga's median salary of $46,700 is 8.4% below the national median of $50,980. However, when adjusted for cost of living (index: 88), the real purchasing power is approximately $53,068.
What is the minimum wage in Chattanooga, TN?
The minimum wage in Chattanooga, TN is $7.25 per hour. This equals approximately $15,080 per year for a full-time worker (40 hours/week). This matches the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour.