Carpenter Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Carpenters in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $50,760 a year — 16% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $42,966 take-home, or $3,580 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median carpenter salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,911
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,147
- Medicare (1.45%)$736
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$42,966
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.
Carpenter pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,310 | $17.94 | $32,159 | $2,680 |
| 25th percentile | $46,590 | $22.40 | $39,615 | $3,301 |
| Median (50th) | $50,760 | $24.40 | $42,966 | $3,580 |
| 75th percentile | $60,720 | $29.19 | $50,969 | $4,247 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $66,000 | $31.73 | $55,211 | $4,601 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $50,760 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 carpenter's $42,966 take-home pay has the buying power of $46,975 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Carpenter jobs are less concentrated in Chattanooga, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for carpenters, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #115 of 194 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oshkosh, WI | $84,430 | $65,132 | $70,088 |
| 2 | Peoria, IL | $75,280 | $58,208 | $63,803 |
| 3 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $94,310 | $69,540 | $62,670 |
| 4 | Rockford, IL | $72,770 | $56,566 | $61,382 |
| 5 | Springfield, MA | $75,520 | $58,402 | $60,797 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $80,440 | $61,583 | $59,445 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $70,990 | $56,372 | $59,284 |
| 8 | Elkhart, IN | $65,520 | $52,922 | $58,591 |
| 115 | Chattanooga, TN | $50,760 | $42,966 | $46,975 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 194 metros →
Carpenter salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $55,770
- Memphis, TN — $50,620
- Knoxville, TN — $50,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a carpenter make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median carpenter salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $50,760 a year, or about $24.40 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $46,590 and $60,720.
What is a carpenter’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $50,760 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $42,966 a year ($3,580 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a carpenter?
Pay here is 16% below the national median of $60,580. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $46,975 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #115 of 194 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a carpenter 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) — 35% of a median carpenter’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers — $75,090
- Electrician — $72,330
- Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $58,720
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,320
- Construction Laborer — $43,260