Meter Readers, Utilities pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $62,540 or more. The middle half of meter readers, utilities in Chattanooga earn between $36,030 and $53,950.
- $33K10th
- $36K25th
- $44KMedian
- $54K75th
- $63K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,180 | $3,932 | $22.68 |
| Median | $43,740 | $3,645 | $21.03 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $36,030 | $3,002 | $17.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $53,950 | $4,496 | $25.94 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Meter Readers, Utilities pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Meter readers, utilities in Chattanooga earn 4% less than the Tennessee average ($48,930) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($55,380). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $48,150.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $47,180 | $43,740 | $33,200 | $62,540 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $48,930 | $45,210 | $30,280 | $71,850 | 860 |
| United States | $55,380 | $48,150 | $34,720 | $85,930 | 19,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $47,180, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $40,089 a year, or $3,341 a month and $1,542 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 | $40,089 | $3,341 |
| Working in GA | $38,483 | $3,207 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for meter readers, utilities? 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 $47,180 buys what about $51,583 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Meter Readers, Utilities salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Clarksville pays the most ($52,840).
- Clarksville$52,840
- Jackson$52,240
- Nashville$50,610
- Knoxville$50,240
- Chattanooga$47,180
- Cleveland$46,280
- Johnson City$45,450
- Kingsport$44,770
- Memphis$44,510
Highest-paying cities for meter readers, utilities
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($98,850).
- San Francisco, CA$98,850
- Omaha, NE$83,350
- Reno, NV$82,320
- Seattle, WA$81,610
- Sacramento, CA$79,570
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Meter Readers, Utilities salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do meter readers, utilities make an hour in Chattanooga?
$22.68 an hour on average, and $21.03 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level meter readers, utilities salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $33,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $36,030, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the meter readers, utilities take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $40,089 a year ($3,341 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,180. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do meter readers, utilities earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($55,380).
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 43-5041; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.9%.
- 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 1.17, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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