Civil Engineers pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,550 or more. The middle half of civil engineers in Chattanooga earn between $75,970 and $131,140.
- $64K10th
- $76K25th
- $96KMedian
- $131K75th
- $163K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $109,060 | $9,088 | $52.43 |
| Median | $95,630 | $7,969 | $45.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,970 | $6,331 | $36.52 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $131,140 | $10,928 | $63.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Civil Engineers pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Civil engineers in Chattanooga earn 6% more than the Tennessee average ($103,340) and about the same as the U.S. average ($108,670). At the median the gap is -5% against the U.S. median of $100,840.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $109,060 | $95,630 | $64,290 | $162,550 | 670 |
| Tennessee | $103,340 | $95,910 | $65,090 | $154,100 | 5,790 |
| United States | $108,670 | $100,840 | $68,240 | $163,220 | 367,840 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Civil Engineers salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $109,060, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $85,554 a year, or $7,129 a month and $3,291 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 | $85,554 | $7,129 |
| Working in GA | $80,860 | $6,738 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for civil engineers? 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 $109,060 buys what about $119,238 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 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Civil Engineers salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 1st of 8 Tennessee metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Chattanooga$109,060
- Knoxville$107,580
- Nashville$104,980
- Clarksville$101,460
- Memphis$100,460
- Jackson$98,380
- Johnson City$97,110
- Kingsport$94,030
Highest-paying cities for civil engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($137,910).
- San Jose, CA$137,910
- San Francisco, CA$136,350
- Napa, CA$130,620
- Sacramento, CA$129,650
- Redding, CA$124,340
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Civil Engineers salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do civil engineers make an hour in Chattanooga?
$52.43 an hour on average, and $45.97 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level civil engineers salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,970, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the civil engineers take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $85,554 a year ($7,129 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $109,060. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do civil engineers earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($108,670).
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 17-2051; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.3%.
- 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 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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