These are the highest paying jobs in Chattanooga

Scenic City wages average 16% less than U.S. median

June 28, 2019 at 10:39 p.m. | Updated June 29, 2019 at 2:31 a.m.

by Dave Flessner

Miller Park dominates the foreground in this early morning view of the Chattanooga skyline. Landmarks such as the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building, Park Plaza, the TVA Building, Lookout Mountain, the Public Library and the Electric Power Board Building are seen in the background. Rain coats the sidewalks and streets of downtown Chattanooga on January 29, 2018. The tri-state had expected snow, but the few flakes made no impact on travel.
Miller Park dominates the foreground in this early morning view of the Chattanooga skyline. Landmarks such as the Joel W. Solomon Federal Building, Park Plaza, the TVA Building, Lookout Mountain, the Public Library and the Electric Power Board Building are seen in the background. Rain coats the sidewalks and streets of downtown Chattanooga on January 29, 2018. The tri-state had expected snow, but the few flakes made no impact on travel.

The typical Chattanoogan was paid 16% less than the U.S. average last year, according to a new occupational wage survey released last week.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the average hourly wage in metropolitan Chattanooga in 2018 was $21.10, or $43,890 a year. Local pay averaged $3.98 an hour less than the U.S. median.

The average Chattanooga wage in the May 2018 occupational wage survey was up 49 cents an hour from the previous year and was 94 cents higher than the average wage rate two years earlier. Such increases were below the rate of inflation, however.

Highest paying jobs in Chattanooga

Among more than 400 occupations in metro Chattanooga, six of the top 10 paying occupations in 2018 were in the health care field:1. Anesthesiologists, $273,4102. Family and general medical practitioners, $271,2103. Surgeons, $252,2604. Pediatricians, $209,5005. Chief executives, $173,3606. Dentists, $149,1007. Architect and engineering managers, $124,7508. Computer and IT managers, $124,3109. Pharmacists, $124,22010. Judges, $119,300Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The relatively lower pay in Chattanooga compared to the U.S. average reflects both the lower prevailing wage levels and cost of living in the South as well as the job makeup of the region.

"In Chattanooga, there isn't as high of a share of workers in higher-paying jobs in business, finance, architecture and similar professions," said Timothy Ewing, an economist for the BLS in Atlanta. "On the flip side, there are disproportionately more people employed in transportation, material handling and food service jobs, which tend to pay below average wages."

Among the 22 major employment fields, 20 had average wages in Chattanooga that were significantly lower than their respective national averages, including life, physical, and social science; business and financial operations; and management. One group - farming, fishing, and forestry - had a significantly higher wage than its respective national average.

When compared to the nationwide distribution, Chattanooga's employment was more highly concentrated in production; transportation and material moving; and health care practitioners and technical. Conversely, 10 groups had employment shares significantly below their national representation, including personal care and service; construction and extraction; and computer and mathematical jobs.

Health care continued to be the highest paying field among all jobs in Chattanooga, according to the BLS. Four of the top 10 paying occupations in Chattanooga were for medical doctors and two others - dentists and pharmacists - also were among the top 10 paying jobs.

The lowest paying job, cafeteria and food concession workers, averaged $9.10 an hour in Chattanooga last year, the BLS said.

Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6340.

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