Bus Drivers, School Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Bus Drivers, School in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $42,460 a year — 11% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,297 take-home, or $3,025 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median bus drivers, school salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,915
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,633
- Medicare (1.45%)$616
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$36,297
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.
Bus Drivers, School pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $24,600 | $11.83 | $21,868 | $1,822 |
| 25th percentile | $26,990 | $12.98 | $23,836 | $1,986 |
| Median (50th) | $42,460 | $20.41 | $36,297 | $3,025 |
| 75th percentile | $49,670 | $23.88 | $42,090 | $3,507 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $49,670 | $23.88 | $42,090 | $3,507 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $42,460 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 bus drivers, school's $36,297 take-home pay has the buying power of $39,684 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 1.2× the national concentration of bus drivers, school jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for bus drivers, school, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #88 of 141 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springfield, MA | $65,730 | $51,928 | $54,057 |
| 2 | San Jose, CA | $75,230 | $57,970 | $52,498 |
| 3 | Worcester, MA | $65,640 | $51,860 | $50,584 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $66,380 | $55,516 | $49,955 |
| 5 | Waterbury, CT | $61,550 | $49,791 | $49,901 |
| 6 | Trenton, NJ | $63,400 | $51,167 | $49,590 |
| 7 | Monroe, LA | $50,060 | $41,288 | $49,389 |
| 8 | San Francisco, CA | $73,680 | $57,024 | $49,323 |
| 88 | Chattanooga, TN | $42,460 | $36,297 | $39,684 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 141 metros →
Bus Drivers, School salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $48,820
- Nashville, TN — $51,600
- Memphis, TN — $37,920
- Knoxville, TN — $31,340
Frequently asked questions
How much does a bus drivers, school make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median bus drivers, school salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $42,460 a year, or about $20.41 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $26,990 and $49,670.
What is a bus drivers, school’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $42,460 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $36,297 a year ($3,025 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a bus drivers, school?
Pay here is 11% below the national median of $47,920. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $39,684 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #88 of 141 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a bus drivers, school 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) — 42% of a median bus drivers, school’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $62,270
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $57,440
- Light Truck Driver — $49,990
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $40,260
- Driver/Sales Worker — $38,050
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,830
- Packers and Packagers, Hand — $35,180
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,410
- Cleaner of Vehicles and Equipment — $31,270