How Much Does an LPN Make in Chattanooga, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for LPNs in Chattanooga, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chattanooga metro area
A typical LPN in Chattanooga, Tennessee earns $28.16 per hour, or $58,580 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $4,882 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $42,810, and the top 10% of earners make over $65,520.
That pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $58,870 and 9% below the national figure of $64,400. Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for LPN pay. About 1,560 LPNs work in the Chattanooga area.
LPN pay in Chattanooga at a glance
- Typical pay is $28.16 an hour, or $58,580 a year.
- That is right at the Tennessee figure, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $42,810; the top 10% make over $65,520.
- Typical pay rose +63% from 2015 to 2025, against +61% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an LPN make in Chattanooga?
Pay in Chattanooga runs from entry-level positions at around $20.58 an hour to more than $31.50 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
LPN pay by career stage in Chattanooga
| Career stage | Chattanooga | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $42,810$20.58 an hour | $41,110$19.76 an hour | $49,740$23.91 an hour |
| First years | $50,960$24.50 an hour | $49,170$23.64 an hour | $59,000$28.37 an hour |
| Typical LPN | $58,580$28.16 an hour | $58,870$28.31 an hour | $64,400$30.96 an hour |
| Experienced | $63,230$30.40 an hour | $62,650$30.12 an hour | $76,030$36.55 an hour |
| Top 10% | $65,520$31.50 an hour | $67,540$32.47 an hour | $83,440$40.12 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chattanooga area as BLS defines it
LPN pay growth in Chattanooga
Typical (median) annual wage for LPNs in the Chattanooga area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical LPN pay in Chattanooga was $35,970 a year. By 2025 it had reached $58,580, a change of +63%, compared with +61% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Chattanooga compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays LPNs the most in Tennessee at $61,940 a year, $3,360 more than Chattanooga. The lowest-paying area in the state is Jackson at $50,670.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chattanooga | LPNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $61,940 | $29.78 | +6% | 5,650 |
| 2 | Memphis | $59,140 | $28.43 | +1% | 2,980 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $58,580 | $28.16 | this city | 1,560 |
| 4 | Clarksville | $58,260 | $28.01 | -1% | 630 |
| 5 | Knoxville | $57,960 | $27.86 | -1% | 2,650 |
| 6 | Morristown | $55,140 | $26.51 | -6% | 260 |
| 7 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $54,050 | $25.99 | -8% | 800 |
| 8 | Cleveland | $52,350 | $25.17 | -11% | 270 |
| 9 | Johnson City | $51,480 | $24.75 | -12% | 820 |
| 10 | Jackson | $50,670 | $24.36 | -14% | 810 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with LPN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $58,870
Is Chattanooga a good place to work as an LPN?
LPNs in Chattanooga earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $58,580 a year, 9% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chattanooga area, about 5.8 are LPN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 4.1. That makes the local economy more reliant on LPNs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an LPN make in Chattanooga, TN?
- A typical LPN in Chattanooga earns $58,580 a year, or $28.16 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $42,810 and the top 10% earn over $65,520.
- How much does an LPN make an hour in Chattanooga?
- Typical hourly pay for LPNs in Chattanooga is $28.16. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $20.58, and the top 10% earn over $31.50 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an LPN in Chattanooga?
- Entry-level LPN positions in Chattanooga typically offer around $20.58 an hour, or $42,810 a year.
- Is LPN pay in Chattanooga higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Chattanooga pay is right at the Tennessee figure of $58,870 a year, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $61,940.