Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $57,440 a year — 2% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $48,333 take-home, or $4,028 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,713
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,561
- Medicare (1.45%)$833
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$48,333
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.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $39,440 | $18.96 | $33,870 | $2,823 |
| 25th percentile | $47,420 | $22.80 | $40,282 | $3,357 |
| Median (50th) | $57,440 | $27.62 | $48,333 | $4,028 |
| 75th percentile | $64,230 | $30.88 | $53,789 | $4,482 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $74,730 | $35.93 | $61,403 | $5,117 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $57,440 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 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver's $48,333 take-home pay has the buying power of $52,844 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 heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #20 of 134 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lincoln, NE | $81,790 | $63,527 | $69,367 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $63,070 | $52,857 | $57,341 |
| 3 | Sioux Falls, SD | $60,820 | $51,049 | $56,326 |
| 4 | Iowa City, IA | $61,960 | $50,262 | $54,926 |
| 5 | Toledo, OH | $60,410 | $49,841 | $54,497 |
| 6 | Fargo, ND | $58,900 | $49,506 | $54,480 |
| 7 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $58,900 | $47,920 | $53,865 |
| 8 | Youngstown, OH | $56,810 | $47,047 | $53,833 |
| 20 | Chattanooga, TN | $57,440 | $48,333 | $52,844 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 134 metros →
About the job: heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers’ license.
- Typical education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +3.8% (about average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $63,070
- Knoxville, TN — $59,100
- Nashville, TN — $60,630
Frequently asked questions
How much does a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $57,440 a year, or about $27.62 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $47,420 and $64,230.
What is a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $57,440 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $48,333 a year ($4,028 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver?
Pay here is 2% below the national median of $58,640. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $52,844 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #20 of 134 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver 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) — 31% of a median heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- Light Truck Driver — $49,990
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $37,830
- Stocker and Order Filler — $34,410