How Much Does a Surgical Tech Make in Chattanooga, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Surgical Techs 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 Surgical Tech in Chattanooga, Tennessee earns $29.28 per hour, or $60,900 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $5,075 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,600, and the top 10% of earners make over $77,610.
That pay is 1% above the Tennessee figure of $60,530 and 6% below the national figure of $64,650. Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 8 metro areas in Tennessee for Surgical Tech pay. About 380 Surgical Techs work in the Chattanooga area.
Surgical Tech pay in Chattanooga at a glance
- Typical pay is $29.28 an hour, or $60,900 a year.
- That is 1% above the Tennessee figure, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $47,600; the top 10% make over $77,610.
- Typical pay rose +63% from 2015 to 2025, against +59% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Surgical Tech make in Chattanooga?
Pay in Chattanooga runs from entry-level positions at around $22.88 an hour to more than $37.31 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Surgical Tech pay by career stage in Chattanooga
| Career stage | Chattanooga | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $47,600$22.88 an hour | $47,620$22.89 an hour | $45,940$22.09 an hour |
| First years | $50,080$24.08 an hour | $51,310$24.67 an hour | $54,690$26.29 an hour |
| Typical Surgical Tech | $60,900$29.28 an hour | $60,530$29.10 an hour | $64,650$31.08 an hour |
| Experienced | $62,440$30.02 an hour | $64,430$30.98 an hour | $79,750$38.34 an hour |
| Top 10% | $77,610$37.31 an hour | $75,920$36.50 an hour | $96,940$46.61 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chattanooga area as BLS defines it
Surgical Tech pay growth in Chattanooga
Typical (median) annual wage for Surgical Techs in the Chattanooga area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Surgical Tech pay in Chattanooga was $37,350 a year. By 2025 it had reached $60,900, a change of +63%, compared with +59% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Chattanooga compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays Surgical Techs the most in Tennessee at $63,120 a year, $2,220 more than Chattanooga. The lowest-paying area in the state is Clarksville at $52,510.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chattanooga | Surgical Techs employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $63,120 | $30.35 | +4% | 1,120 |
| 2 | Memphis | $61,150 | $29.40 | 0% | 630 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $60,900 | $29.28 | this city | 380 |
| 4 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $60,500 | $29.09 | -1% | 110 |
| 5 | Johnson City | $59,180 | $28.45 | -3% | 120 |
| 6 | Jackson | $59,090 | $28.41 | -3% | 70 |
| 7 | Knoxville | $54,900 | $26.39 | -10% | 520 |
| 8 | Clarksville | $52,510 | $25.24 | -14% | 70 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Surgical Tech wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $60,530
Is Chattanooga a good place to work as a Surgical Tech?
Surgical Techs in Chattanooga earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $60,900 a year, 6% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chattanooga area, about 1.4 are Surgical Tech positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 0.8. That makes the local economy more reliant on Surgical Techs than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Surgical Tech make in Chattanooga, TN?
- A typical Surgical Tech in Chattanooga earns $60,900 a year, or $29.28 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $47,600 and the top 10% earn over $77,610.
- How much does a Surgical Tech make an hour in Chattanooga?
- Typical hourly pay for Surgical Techs in Chattanooga is $29.28. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $22.88, and the top 10% earn over $37.31 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Surgical Tech in Chattanooga?
- Entry-level Surgical Tech positions in Chattanooga typically offer around $22.88 an hour, or $47,600 a year.
- Is Surgical Tech pay in Chattanooga higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Chattanooga pay is 1% above the Tennessee figure of $60,530 a year, ranking 3rd of 8 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $63,120.