1 HAMILTON COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION — 5,816 employees. The county school system operates 80 elementary, middle and high schools.
2 ERLANGER HEALTH SYSTEM — 4,563 employees. Chattanooga’s biggest hospital chain operates hospitals downtown, in East Brainerd and in Red Bank.
3 BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF TENNESSEE — 4,548 employees. Tennessee’s biggest health insurer consolidated its local staff on Cameron Hill last year.
4 MEMORIAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEM — 3,576 employees. Memorial operates hospitals in Glenwood and Hixson and owns a physician practice.
5 TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY — 3,438 employees. TVA’s power headquarters is in Chattanooga and the utility operates the Sequoyah Nuclear Plant near Soddy-Daisy.
Source: Hamilton County government, 2010 preliminary offering statement