Recreation Workers pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $45,480 or more. The middle half of recreation workers in Chattanooga earn between $29,980 and $41,720.
- $24K10th
- $30K25th
- $32KMedian
- $42K75th
- $45K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $34,560 | $2,880 | $16.62 |
| Median | $32,240 | $2,687 | $15.50 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $29,980 | $2,498 | $14.41 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $41,720 | $3,477 | $20.06 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Recreation Workers pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Recreation workers in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($35,150) and 10% less than the U.S. average ($38,520). At the median the gap is -12% against the U.S. median of $36,560.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $34,560 | $32,240 | $23,770 | $45,480 | 250 |
| Tennessee | $35,150 | $33,580 | $23,960 | $46,550 | 3,420 |
| United States | $38,520 | $36,560 | $27,600 | $50,410 | 331,490 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Recreation Workers salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $34,560, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $29,949 a year, or $2,496 a month and $1,152 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 | $29,949 | $2,496 |
| Working in GA | $28,973 | $2,414 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for recreation workers? 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 $34,560 buys what about $37,785 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 9.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Recreation Workers salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($38,770).
- Nashville$38,770
- Knoxville$35,710
- Chattanooga$34,560
- Kingsport$33,990
- Jackson$33,540
- Morristown$32,880
- Memphis$32,560
- Johnson City$31,990
- Clarksville$30,730
- Cleveland$26,600
Highest-paying cities for recreation workers
Fairbanks, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($61,070).
- Fairbanks, AK$61,070
- San Jose, CA$54,750
- San Francisco, CA$48,810
- Seattle, WA$47,840
- Bozeman, MT$47,520
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Recreation Workers salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do recreation workers make an hour in Chattanooga?
$16.62 an hour on average, and $15.50 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level recreation workers salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $29,980, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the recreation workers take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $29,949 a year ($2,496 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $34,560. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do recreation workers earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 10% less than the U.S. average for this job ($38,520).
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 39-9032; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.43, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.43).
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