Registered Nurses pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $102,930 or more. The middle half of registered nurses in Chattanooga earn between $77,690 and $93,710.
- $65K10th
- $78K25th
- $80KMedian
- $94K75th
- $103K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $85,220 | $7,102 | $40.97 |
| Median | $79,770 | $6,648 | $38.35 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $77,690 | $6,474 | $37.35 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $93,710 | $7,809 | $45.05 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Registered Nurses pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Registered nurses in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($85,390) and 16% less than the U.S. average ($101,420). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $97,550.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $85,220 | $79,770 | $65,150 | $102,930 | 6,460 |
| Tennessee | $85,390 | $81,500 | $63,970 | $104,920 | 72,200 |
| United States | $101,420 | $97,550 | $68,940 | $137,470 | 3,379,720 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Registered Nurses salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $85,220, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $68,782 a year, or $5,732 a month and $2,645 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% 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 | $68,782 | $5,732 |
| Working in GA | $65,278 | $5,440 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for registered nurses? 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 $85,220 buys what about $93,173 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Registered Nurses salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($92,350).
- Nashville$92,350
- Memphis$87,370
- Chattanooga$85,220
- Johnson City$84,350
- Clarksville$82,520
- Kingsport$80,250
- Knoxville$78,410
- Jackson$76,220
- Morristown$75,800
- Cleveland$71,990
Highest-paying cities for registered nurses
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($194,950).
- San Jose, CA$194,950
- Vallejo, CA$182,820
- San Francisco, CA$176,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$170,000
- Sacramento, CA$164,200
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Registered Nurses salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do registered nurses make an hour in Chattanooga?
$40.97 an hour on average, and $38.35 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level registered nurses salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $65,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $77,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the registered nurses take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $68,782 a year ($5,732 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $85,220. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do registered nurses earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% less than the U.S. average for this job ($101,420).
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 29-1141; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.6%.
- 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 1.11, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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