Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $37,830 a year — 6% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $32,576 take-home, or $2,715 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,360
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,345
- Medicare (1.45%)$549
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$32,576
Marginal rate: 12% 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 →
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $30,880 | $14.85 | $26,992 | $2,249 |
| 25th percentile | $35,180 | $16.91 | $30,447 | $2,537 |
| Median (50th) | $37,830 | $18.19 | $32,576 | $2,715 |
| 75th percentile | $40,300 | $19.38 | $34,561 | $2,880 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $47,350 | $22.76 | $40,226 | $3,352 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $37,830 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 laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand's $32,576 take-home pay has the buying power of $35,617 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Chattanooga, TN has 1.5× the national concentration of laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #62 of 164 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waterloo, IA | $47,440 | $39,147 | $44,967 |
| 2 | Fargo, ND | $45,690 | $38,892 | $42,799 |
| 3 | Des Moines, IA | $46,370 | $38,328 | $41,797 |
| 4 | Louisville, KY | $46,830 | $38,286 | $41,135 |
| 5 | Chambersburg, PA | $47,540 | $38,919 | $41,122 |
| 6 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $43,300 | $35,978 | $40,441 |
| 7 | Youngstown, OH | $41,540 | $35,197 | $40,274 |
| 8 | Tyler, TX | $43,390 | $37,044 | $40,197 |
| 62 | Chattanooga, TN | $37,830 | $32,576 | $35,617 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 164 metros →
About the job: laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand
Manually move freight, stock, luggage, or other materials, or perform other general labor.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Jackson, TN — $36,710
- Memphis, TN — $39,510
- Nashville, TN — $39,790
- Kingsport, TN — $35,300
- Clarksville, TN — $37,070
- Knoxville, TN — $37,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $37,830 a year, or about $18.19 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $35,180 and $40,300.
What is a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $37,830 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $32,576 a year ($2,715 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand?
Pay here is 6% below the national median of $40,240. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $35,617 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #62 of 164 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand 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) — 47% of a median laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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