Construction Laborer Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Construction Laborers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $43,260 a year — 8% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,939 take-home, or $3,078 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median construction laborer salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,011
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,682
- Medicare (1.45%)$627
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$36,939
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.
Construction Laborer pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $33,130 | $15.93 | $28,800 | $2,400 |
| 25th percentile | $36,690 | $17.64 | $31,660 | $2,638 |
| Median (50th) | $43,260 | $20.80 | $36,939 | $3,078 |
| 75th percentile | $48,840 | $23.48 | $41,423 | $3,452 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $60,170 | $28.93 | $50,527 | $4,211 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $43,260 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 construction laborer's $36,939 take-home pay has the buying power of $40,387 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Construction Laborer jobs are about as common in Chattanooga, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.95).
Best-paying cities for construction laborers, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #149 of 286 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vineland, NJ | $83,680 | $64,558 | $67,271 |
| 2 | Trenton, NJ | $71,920 | $57,000 | $55,243 |
| 3 | Kahului, HI | $79,760 | $60,410 | $55,222 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $61,340 | $48,819 | $54,996 |
| 5 | Decatur, IL | $61,270 | $48,522 | $54,876 |
| 6 | St. Louis, MO | $64,500 | $51,912 | $54,593 |
| 7 | Peoria, IL | $62,960 | $49,797 | $54,583 |
| 8 | Jefferson City, MO | $58,220 | $47,161 | $53,607 |
| 149 | Chattanooga, TN | $43,260 | $36,939 | $40,387 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 286 metros →
Construction Laborer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $45,370
- Jackson, TN — $44,610
- Knoxville, TN — $46,130
- Memphis, TN — $44,810
- Nashville, TN — $46,190
- Johnson City, TN — $41,150
- Clarksville, TN — $41,950
- Morristown, TN — $38,400
Frequently asked questions
How much does a construction laborer make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median construction laborer salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $43,260 a year, or about $20.80 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,690 and $48,840.
What is a construction laborer’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $43,260 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $36,939 a year ($3,078 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a construction laborer?
Pay here is 8% below the national median of $47,120. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $40,387 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #149 of 286 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a construction laborer 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) — 41% of a median construction laborer’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
- Carpenter — $50,760
- Operating Engineer and Other Construction Equipment Operator — $50,320