Baker Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Bakers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $40,880 a year — 10% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $35,027 take-home, or $2,919 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median baker salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,726
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,535
- Medicare (1.45%)$593
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$35,027
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.
Baker pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,190 | $10.67 | $19,883 | $1,657 |
| 25th percentile | $31,830 | $15.30 | $27,755 | $2,313 |
| Median (50th) | $40,880 | $19.65 | $35,027 | $2,919 |
| 75th percentile | $43,220 | $20.78 | $36,907 | $3,076 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $54,760 | $26.33 | $46,180 | $3,848 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $40,880 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 baker's $35,027 take-home pay has the buying power of $38,296 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 1.9× the national concentration of baker jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bakers, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #1 of 98 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chattanooga, TN | $40,880 | $35,027 | $38,296 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $48,180 | $40,893 | $36,796 |
| 3 | Spokane, WA | $42,770 | $36,546 | $36,420 |
| 4 | Bakersfield, CA | $42,470 | $35,064 | $34,756 |
| 5 | Des Moines, IA | $37,680 | $31,676 | $34,543 |
| 6 | Stockton, CA | $43,760 | $36,033 | $34,288 |
| 7 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $47,150 | $37,986 | $34,234 |
| 8 | Las Vegas, NV | $39,890 | $34,232 | $34,158 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 98 metros →
Baker salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $33,400
- Nashville, TN — $34,920
- Knoxville, TN — $31,890
Frequently asked questions
How much does a baker make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median baker salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $40,880 a year, or about $19.65 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $31,830 and $43,220.
What is a baker’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $40,880 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $35,027 a year ($2,919 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a baker?
Pay here is 10% above the national median of $37,160. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $38,296 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #1 of 98 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a baker 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) — 43% of a median baker’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $70,660
- Machinist — $51,540
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,850
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,220
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,820
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,330
- Production Workers, All Other — $43,160
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $40,140
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $37,550