Jobs, pay and daily life in Chattanooga, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Chattanooga is a city in Tennessee with 185,783 residents. The median household earns $64,523 a year and the median rent is $1,256 a month, which is 23.4% of the median household income. It is part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan area, where BLS counts 268,750 jobs.
Federal jobs in Tennessee (395) →State guide: TennesseeCountry guide
There are 395 federal postings open in Tennessee (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in Tennessee →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators | 8,120 | 3.34 | $45,330 | $24,290 | $72,880 | +2% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 7,770 | 1.17 | $27,140 | $21,700 | $34,320 | -13% |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 7,730 | 1.52 | $37,830 | $30,880 | $47,350 | -6% |
| Retail Salespersons | 7,020 | 1.04 | $31,460 | $23,010 | $47,430 | -11% |
| Registered Nurses | 6,460 | 1.11 | $79,770 | $65,150 | $102,930 | -18% |
| Cashiers | 5,530 | 1.03 | $28,440 | $21,490 | $34,390 | -14% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 5,120 | 1.14 | $45,030 | $31,180 | $59,060 | +1% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 4,790 | 1.22 | $24,240 | $15,080 | $46,970 | -31% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,690 | 0.77 | $102,920 | $48,370 | $226,950 | -3% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 4,410 | 0.90 | $34,410 | $29,960 | $45,760 | -8% |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 4,370 | 1.23 | $57,440 | $39,440 | $74,730 | -2% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 4,140 | 1.08 | $31,760 | $27,970 | $42,080 | -14% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 3,940 | 1.59 | $64,150 | $43,790 | $99,990 | -8% |
| Office Clerks, General | 3,920 | 0.92 | $37,860 | $26,340 | $56,590 | -16% |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | 3,590 | 2.16 | $38,640 | $31,490 | $56,890 | -16% |
| Light Truck Drivers | 3,500 | 2.06 | $49,990 | $29,450 | $54,060 | +11% |
| Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 2,920 | 1.23 | $46,920 | $34,510 | $64,780 | -7% |
| Maintenance and Repair Workers, General | 2,840 | 1.08 | $47,170 | $33,790 | $71,640 | -5% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 2,560 | 0.34 | $32,670 | $28,880 | $37,720 | -9% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers | 2,520 | 1.19 | $39,220 | $29,110 | $62,290 | -11% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 660 | 0.57 | $152,980 | $86,230 | $228,830 | -13% |
| Financial Managers | 1,280 | 0.88 | $151,530 | $84,480 | $293,890 | -9% |
| Lawyers | 740 | 0.56 | $147,640 | $65,000 | $355,460 | -8% |
| Pharmacists | 750 | 1.35 | $132,240 | $86,520 | $168,280 | -6% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 670 | 1.47 | $130,540 | $73,520 | $201,030 | +14% |
| Industrial Production Managers | 680 | 1.60 | $121,670 | $79,090 | $186,160 | -3% |
| Sales Managers | 990 | 0.89 | $118,720 | $62,300 | $216,820 | -20% |
| Nurse Practitioners | 1,000 | 1.79 | $116,480 | $96,480 | $132,400 | -12% |
| Software Developers | 990 | 0.34 | $106,750 | $64,230 | $163,130 | -21% |
| Mechanical Engineers | 510 | 1.00 | $106,660 | $75,880 | $157,030 | +2% |
| General and Operations Managers | 4,690 | 0.77 | $102,920 | $48,370 | $226,950 | -3% |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | 1,150 | 1.12 | $102,920 | $68,180 | $205,400 | -17% |
| Industrial Engineers | 930 | 1.47 | $99,410 | $75,380 | $143,000 | -3% |
| Physical Therapists | 520 | 1.12 | $99,120 | $73,210 | $125,410 | -4% |
| Management Analysts | 1,010 | 0.65 | $96,870 | $63,450 | $164,130 | -5% |
| Civil Engineers | 670 | 1.06 | $95,630 | $64,290 | $162,550 | -5% |
| Computer Systems Analysts | 710 | 0.79 | $93,350 | $59,530 | $142,040 | -12% |
| Managers, All Other | 1,320 | 1.23 | $91,300 | $49,860 | $167,480 | -36% |
| Project Management Specialists | 1,750 | 0.95 | $87,240 | $56,450 | $149,430 | -15% |
| Registered Nurses | 6,460 | 1.11 | $79,770 | $65,150 | $102,930 | -18% |
These figures are for the whole Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $46,700 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.2% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.5% |
| Manufacturing | 13.0% |
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 11.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 11.2% |
| Retail trade | 10.9% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 8.3% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 7.3% |
| Construction | 6.5% |
| Other services | 5.0% |
| Public administration | 2.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 1.9% |
| Information | 1.2% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.5% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 73.6% |
| Public transit | 0.9% |
| Walk | 1.9% |
| Work from home | 13.6% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 4.4% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,523 |
| Income per person | $41,600 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,256 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 23.4% |
| Median home value | $283,200 |
| Homeowners | 52.4% |
| Poverty rate | 19.1% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 91.5 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $46,700 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: No state tax on wages.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 36.3 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 90.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 36.0% |
| Born abroad | 8.3% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 64.5% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3.6 | 38 | 109 |
| Feb | 5.8 | 42 | 122 |
| Mar | 10.4 | 51 | 118 |
| Apr | 15.3 | 60 | 115 |
| May | 20.1 | 68 | 115 |
| Jun | 24.6 | 76 | 106 |
| Jul | 26.4 | 80 | 127 |
| Aug | 26.2 | 79 | 96 |
| Sep | 22.7 | 73 | 108 |
| Oct | 16.2 | 61 | 89 |
| Nov | 9.7 | 49 | 109 |
| Dec | 5.5 | 42 | 140 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville | AL | 85 mi | 222,791 | $74,714 | $1,171 |
| Murfreesboro | TN | 86 mi | 161,445 | $80,108 | $1,481 |
| Knoxville | TN | 96 mi | 195,185 | $54,039 | $1,191 |
| Atlanta | GA | 102 mi | 520,066 | $88,165 | $1,765 |
| Nashville | TN | 115 mi | 704,965 | $80,090 | $1,669 |
| Athens | GA | 132 mi | 127,345 | $52,974 | $1,219 |
| Birmingham | AL | 138 mi | 198,173 | $46,051 | $1,107 |
| Clarksville | TN | 157 mi | 176,456 | $69,303 | $1,307 |
| Columbus | GA | 178 mi | 203,711 | $58,073 | $1,106 |
| Macon-Bibb County | GA | 180 mi | 156,578 | $51,234 | $1,066 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
185,783 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,256 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 23.4% of the median household income.
$64,523 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.2% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
Tennessee. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.