Surgical Technologist Salary in Chattanooga, TN — 2026
Surgical Technologist salary data for Chattanooga, TN — adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Surgical Technologist salary in Chattanooga, TN is $56,892 per year ($4,741/month, $27/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 88, which is 12% below the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Chattanooga's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Surgical Technologist Take-Home Pay in Chattanooga
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $56,892 |
| Federal Tax | -$4,647 |
| State Tax (0.0% eff.) | -$0 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$4,352 |
| Annual Take-Home | $47,893 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $3,991 |
Living Cost Comparison
Surgical Technologist Requirements
Key Skills
Chattanooga Job Market Overview
Chattanooga, Tennessee has a population of 181,099 and an unemployment rate of 2.8%. The top industries are Technology, Manufacturing, Tourism. The local job growth rate is 2.2%, and the average commute time is 21minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Surgical Technologist Salary in Nearby Tennessee Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown — Surgical Technologist in Chattanooga
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Surgical Technologist in Chattanooga, TN, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $41,888 | $20/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $49,390 | $24/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $56,892 | $27/hr | Mid-career, 0-2 years |
| 75th | $69,872 | $34/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $79,816 | $38/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Chattanooga's Technology sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 10.0% salary growth for Surgical Technologists over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Chattanooga estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Surgical Technologist can expect a 13.6% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 4 years in Chattanooga. Negotiation, certifications (CST Certification, BLS), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Chattanooga vs National Average
The national median Surgical Technologist salary is $64,650 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Surgical Technologists). In Chattanooga, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $56,892 is 12.0% below the national figure. This reflects Chattanooga's cost of living index of 88 (lower than the national average of 100).
For Surgical Technologists, this means: rent typically consumes 27.6% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Chattanooga costs about 5.4× annual take-home. Homeownership in Chattanooga on this salary is challenging — most experts recommend keeping home costs to 3-4× income.
Industry Context: Technology in Chattanooga
Chattanooga's economy is anchored by Technology, Manufacturing, Tourism, with 181,099 residents and an unemployment rate of 2.8% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Surgical Technologists can differ by sector, so compare Technology employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 2.2%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 6.0% growth outlook for Surgical Technologist roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Surgical Technologist salaries in Chattanooga, TN:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Surgical Technologists). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Chattanooga index of 88 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), TN 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 0.0%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine — occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook — occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) — regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau — Chattanooga QuickFacts — population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary — 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics — official local unemployment rates to verify the Chattanooga figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Surgical Technologist salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Technology vs others in Chattanooga), specific skill set (Sterile Technique, Instrument Handling, Patient Prep), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Surgical Technologist salary in Chattanooga, TN?
How much does a Surgical Technologist take home in Chattanooga after taxes?
Is Chattanooga a good city for Surgical Technologists?
What skills are needed for a Surgical Technologist in Chattanooga?
How does Surgical Technologist salary in Chattanooga compare to the national average?
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Surgical Technologist salary in Chattanooga, TN?
Salario estimates the median Surgical Technologist salary in Chattanooga, TN at $56,892 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Surgical Technologist benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 88, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $41,888, and the senior estimate is $69,872 or more.
How much does a Surgical Technologist take home in Chattanooga after taxes?
A Surgical Technologist earning the median salary of $56,892 in Chattanooga, TN takes home approximately $47,893 per year ($3,991/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 15.8%.
Is Chattanooga a good city for Surgical Technologists?
Chattanooga, TN has a cost of living index of 88 (below national average). Surgical Technologists here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 2.8% and top industries include Technology, Manufacturing, Tourism.
What skills are needed for a Surgical Technologist in Chattanooga?
Key skills for Surgical Technologists include Sterile Technique, Instrument Handling, Patient Prep, Operating Room, Safety Protocols. Typical education requirement is Associate's Degree. Valuable certifications include CST Certification, BLS.
How does Surgical Technologist salary in Chattanooga compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Surgical Technologist is $64,650 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Chattanooga, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $56,892, which is 12.0% lower than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.