Updated · 2026 tax rules · Data: IRS, BLS, BEA, HUD · How we calculate

Cashier Salary in Chattanooga, TN

Cashiers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $28,440 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,030 take-home, or $2,086 a month.

Median salary
$28,440
$13.67 per hour
Typical range
$21,490 – $34,390
10th to 90th percentile
Jobs in Chattanooga, TN
5,530
1.03× national concentration
▲2.4%
Pay trend: The median for cashiers in Chattanooga, TN rose from $27,780 (May 2024) to $28,440 (May 2025). That roughly kept pace with inflation (2.4%).

Take-home pay calculator

Pre-filled with the median cashier salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.

Cashier in Chattanooga, TN
Deductions, kids & local tax

2026 tax year. Federal brackets from IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32.

Your take-home pay
$25,030
per year · effective tax rate 12.0%
$2,086Monthly
$1,043Twice a month
$963Every 2 weeks
$12.03Hourly
  • Federal income tax$1,234
  • Social Security (6.2%)$1,763
  • Medicare (1.45%)$412
  • Tennessee income tax$0
  • Take-home pay$25,030

Marginal rate: 10% federal + 0.00% state

The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro spans Tennessee, Georgia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.

Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →

Cashier pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN

PercentileSalaryHourlyTake-home / yrPer month
10th percentile (entry level)$21,490$10.33$19,307$1,609
25th percentile$22,740$10.93$20,336$1,695
Median (50th)$28,440$13.67$25,030$2,086
75th percentile$30,920$14.87$27,024$2,252
90th percentile (top earners)$34,390$16.53$29,812$2,484

Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.

What $28,440 buys in Chattanooga, TN

Prices in Chattanooga, TN are 8.5% lower than the U.S. average (housing costs are 23% below the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median cashier's $25,030 take-home pay has the buying power of $27,366 in a typical American city.

1-bedroom rent
$1,263
61% of monthly take-home
2-bedroom rent
$1,390
67% of monthly take-home
Left after 1-BR rent
$823
per month for everything else

Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.

Cashier jobs are about as common in Chattanooga, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.03).

Best-paying cities for cashiers, adjusted for cost of living

Chattanooga, TN ranks #103 of 202 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.

#Metro areaMedian salaryTake-homeReal value*
1Seattle, WA $44,210$37,703$33,926
2Rochester, MN $34,960$29,219$32,172
3San Jose, CA $42,960$35,432$32,088
4Fargo, ND $33,420$29,033$31,950
5Kennewick, WA $36,610$31,596$31,571
6Duluth, MN $33,020$27,764$31,277
7Spokane, WA $36,290$31,339$31,231
8St. Cloud, MN $32,480$27,359$31,220
103Chattanooga, TN$28,440$25,030$27,366

*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 202 metros →

About the job: cashiers

Receive and disburse money in establishments other than financial institutions. May use electronic scanners, cash registers, or related equipment. May process credit or debit card transactions and validate checks.

Typical education
No formal educational credential
Work experience
None required
On-the-job training
Short-term on-the-job training
Job outlook, 2025–35
-6.5% (declining)

Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.

Cashier salaries elsewhere in Tennessee

Frequently asked questions

How much does a cashier make in Chattanooga, TN?

The median cashier salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $28,440 a year, or about $13.67 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $22,740 and $30,920.

What is a cashier’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?

On the median $28,440 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,030 a year ($2,086 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.

Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a cashier?

Pay here is 14% below the national median of $32,880. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $27,366 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #103 of 202 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.

Can a cashier afford rent in Chattanooga, TN?

HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chattanooga, TN is $1,263 a month ($1,390 for two bedrooms) — 61% of a median cashier’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.

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