Chemists pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $137,700 or more. The middle half of chemists in Chattanooga earn between $71,860 and $129,110.
- $62K10th
- $72K25th
- $92KMedian
- $129K75th
- $138K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,300 | $8,358 | $48.22 |
| Median | $92,490 | $7,708 | $44.47 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,860 | $5,988 | $34.55 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,110 | $10,759 | $62.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Chemists pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Chemists in Chattanooga earn 13% more than the Tennessee average ($88,400) and about the same as the U.S. average ($100,450). At the median the gap is +1% against the U.S. median of $91,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $100,300 | $92,490 | $62,500 | $137,700 | 50 |
| Tennessee | $88,400 | $87,930 | $48,530 | $132,630 | 960 |
| United States | $100,450 | $91,240 | $58,460 | $160,830 | 82,770 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Chemists salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $100,300, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $79,391 a year, or $6,616 a month and $3,054 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $79,391 | $6,616 |
| Working in GA | $75,135 | $6,261 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for chemists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $100,300 buys what about $109,661 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Chemists salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 1st of 4 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
Highest-paying cities for chemists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($144,550).
- Washington, DC$144,550
- Bay City, MI$139,910
- Lexington Park, MD$132,480
- San Francisco, CA$130,870
- Boston, MA$130,520
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Chemists salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do chemists make an hour in Chattanooga?
$48.22 an hour on average, and $44.47 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level chemists salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the chemists take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $79,391 a year ($6,616 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,300. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do chemists earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($100,450).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2031; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.33, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.33).
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