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Tuesday, November 10, 2026Nov 10

Chattanooga’s average wage rises but still trails nation at large

Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Geoff Meldahl, organization president, speaks during the Chattanooga Area Central Labor Council May Day protest at the Hamilton County Courthouse.
Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Geoff Meldahl, organization president, speaks during the Chattanooga Area Central Labor Council May Day protest at the Hamilton County Courthouse. Staff photo by Larry Sullivan II / Geoff Meldahl, organization president, speaks during the Chattanooga Area Central Labor Council May Day protest at the Hamilton County Courthouse.


The average wage in the broader Chattanooga region ticked up in 2025, but it still lagged behind the national average.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labour Statistics shows the average pay in a six-county region around Chattanooga increased about 4% year-over-year in May 2025 to $28.21 per hour, equating to approximately $58,676 per year for someone working 40 hours per week.

Nationally, that number rose nearly 3% to $33.54 in May 2025, or about $69,763 for a full year.

The local counties included in the tally are Hamilton, Marion and Sequatchie in Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker in Georgia.