Dishwasher Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Dishwashers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $29,430 a year — 15% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $25,827 take-home, or $2,152 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median dishwasher salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$1,352
- Social Security (6.2%)$1,825
- Medicare (1.45%)$427
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$25,827
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.
Dishwasher pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $22,260 | $10.70 | $19,941 | $1,662 |
| 25th percentile | $27,660 | $13.30 | $24,388 | $2,032 |
| Median (50th) | $29,430 | $14.15 | $25,827 | $2,152 |
| 75th percentile | $35,060 | $16.86 | $30,351 | $2,529 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $37,640 | $18.10 | $32,424 | $2,702 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $29,430 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 dishwasher's $25,827 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,237 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Dishwasher jobs are about as common in Chattanooga, TN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.88).
Best-paying cities for dishwashers, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #68 of 156 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kahului, HI | $45,930 | $37,094 | $33,909 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $42,750 | $36,530 | $32,870 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $43,960 | $36,183 | $32,767 |
| 4 | Kansas City, MO | $34,800 | $29,444 | $31,816 |
| 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | $37,110 | $31,417 | $31,780 |
| 6 | Spokane, WA | $36,330 | $31,371 | $31,263 |
| 7 | Omaha, NE | $33,810 | $28,688 | $31,212 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $35,360 | $30,592 | $31,195 |
| 68 | Chattanooga, TN | $29,430 | $25,827 | $28,237 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 156 metros →
Dishwasher salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Nashville, TN — $34,380
- Memphis, TN — $29,700
- Knoxville, TN — $29,530
Frequently asked questions
How much does a dishwasher make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median dishwasher salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $29,430 a year, or about $14.15 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $27,660 and $35,060.
What is a dishwasher’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $29,430 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $25,827 a year ($2,152 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a dishwasher?
Pay here is 15% below the national median of $34,810. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,237 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #68 of 156 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a dishwasher 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) — 59% of a median dishwasher’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
- 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
- Bartender — $25,650
- Waiter and Waitress — $24,240