Bartender Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Bartenders in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $25,650 a year — 25% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $22,733 take-home, or $1,894 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bartender salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$955
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,590
- Medicare (1.45%)$372
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$22,733
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.
Bartender pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $15,330 | $7.37 | $14,157 | $1,180 |
| 25th percentile | $18,040 | $8.67 | $16,466 | $1,372 |
| Median (50th) | $25,650 | $12.33 | $22,733 | $1,894 |
| 75th percentile | $46,200 | $22.21 | $39,302 | $3,275 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $51,350 | $24.69 | $43,440 | $3,620 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $25,650 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 bartender's $22,733 take-home pay has the buying power of $24,854 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Bartender jobs are less concentrated in Chattanooga, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.68), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for bartenders, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #166 of 237 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $86,280 | $64,501 | $58,962 |
| 2 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $75,340 | $57,636 | $51,943 |
| 3 | Kennewick, WA | $55,820 | $47,031 | $46,994 |
| 4 | Bellingham, WA | $56,110 | $47,264 | $45,739 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $58,180 | $48,928 | $44,026 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $61,220 | $48,661 | $43,230 |
| 7 | Bremerton, WA | $53,810 | $45,416 | $43,005 |
| 8 | Portland, ME | $54,170 | $43,231 | $42,442 |
| 166 | Chattanooga, TN | $25,650 | $22,733 | $24,854 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 237 metros →
Bartender salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Knoxville, TN — $28,860
- Memphis, TN — $28,710
- Nashville, TN — $28,190
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bartender make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median bartender salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $25,650 a year, or about $12.33 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $18,040 and $46,200.
What is a bartender’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $25,650 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $22,733 a year ($1,894 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a bartender?
Pay here is 25% below the national median of $34,340. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $24,854 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #166 of 237 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bartender 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) — 67% of a median bartender’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Food Preparation and Serving Workers — $39,220
- Cooks, Restaurant — $36,010
- Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria — $33,410
- Food Preparation Worker — $30,300
- Dishwasher — $29,430
- Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendant and Bartender Helper — $27,870
- Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop — $27,750
- Fast Food and Counter Worker — $27,140
- Cooks, Fast Food — $26,890
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,240