How Much Does an RN Make in Chattanooga, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for RNs 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 RN in Chattanooga, Tennessee earns $38.35 per hour, or $79,770 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $6,648 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,150, and the top 10% of earners make over $102,930.
That pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $81,500 and 18% below the national figure of $97,550. Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for RN pay. About 6,460 RNs work in the Chattanooga area.
RN pay in Chattanooga at a glance
- Typical pay is $38.35 an hour, or $79,770 a year.
- That is 2% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $65,150; the top 10% make over $102,930.
- Typical pay rose +42% from 2015 to 2025, against +43% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does an RN make in Chattanooga?
Pay in Chattanooga runs from entry-level positions at around $31.32 an hour to more than $49.49 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
RN pay by career stage in Chattanooga
| Career stage | Chattanooga | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $65,150$31.32 an hour | $63,970$30.76 an hour | $68,940$33.14 an hour |
| First years | $77,690$37.35 an hour | $75,460$36.28 an hour | $80,330$38.62 an hour |
| Typical RN | $79,770$38.35 an hour | $81,500$39.18 an hour | $97,550$46.90 an hour |
| Experienced | $93,710$45.05 an hour | $95,250$45.79 an hour | $112,350$54.02 an hour |
| Top 10% | $102,930$49.49 an hour | $104,920$50.44 an hour | $137,470$66.09 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chattanooga area as BLS defines it
RN pay growth in Chattanooga
Typical (median) annual wage for RNs in the Chattanooga area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical RN pay in Chattanooga was $56,130 a year. By 2025 it had reached $79,770, a change of +42%, compared with +43% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Chattanooga compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays RNs the most in Tennessee at $84,040 a year, $4,270 more than Chattanooga. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cleveland at $72,800.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chattanooga | RNs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $84,040 | $40.40 | +5% | 25,100 |
| 2 | Memphis | $81,500 | $39.18 | +2% | 13,760 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $79,770 | $38.35 | this city | 6,460 |
| 4 | Clarksville | $79,450 | $38.20 | 0% | 1,670 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $77,660 | $37.34 | -3% | 2,740 |
| 6 | Knoxville | $77,240 | $37.13 | -3% | 9,500 |
| 7 | Kingsport metro incl. Bristol | $76,730 | $36.89 | -4% | 2,660 |
| 8 | Morristown | $75,680 | $36.38 | -5% | 710 |
| 9 | Jackson | $75,610 | $36.35 | -5% | 1,930 |
| 10 | Cleveland | $72,800 | $35.00 | -9% | 630 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with RN wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $81,500
Is Chattanooga a good place to work as an RN?
RNs in Chattanooga earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $79,770 a year, 18% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chattanooga area, about 24 are RN positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 22. RN jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does an RN make in Chattanooga, TN?
- A typical RN in Chattanooga earns $79,770 a year, or $38.35 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $65,150 and the top 10% earn over $102,930.
- How much does an RN make an hour in Chattanooga?
- Typical hourly pay for RNs in Chattanooga is $38.35. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $31.32, and the top 10% earn over $49.49 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for an RN in Chattanooga?
- Entry-level RN positions in Chattanooga typically offer around $31.32 an hour, or $65,150 a year.
- Is RN pay in Chattanooga higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Chattanooga pay is 2% below the Tennessee figure of $81,500 a year, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $84,040.