Machinist Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Machinists in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $51,540 a year — 12% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $43,592 take-home, or $3,633 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median machinist salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$4,005
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,195
- Medicare (1.45%)$747
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$43,592
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.
Machinist pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $37,230 | $17.90 | $32,094 | $2,675 |
| 25th percentile | $45,790 | $22.01 | $38,972 | $3,248 |
| Median (50th) | $51,540 | $24.78 | $43,592 | $3,633 |
| 75th percentile | $61,540 | $29.59 | $51,627 | $4,302 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,870 | $33.59 | $57,984 | $4,832 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $51,540 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 machinist's $43,592 take-home pay has the buying power of $47,661 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 1.5× the national concentration of machinist jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for machinists, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #67 of 115 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baton Rouge, LA | $67,700 | $54,812 | $60,379 |
| 2 | New Orleans, LA | $66,990 | $54,334 | $58,678 |
| 3 | St. Cloud, MN | $62,230 | $49,474 | $56,456 |
| 4 | Kingsport, TN | $57,890 | $48,695 | $56,329 |
| 5 | Davenport, IA | $61,710 | $50,071 | $56,209 |
| 6 | Lafayette, LA | $59,830 | $48,845 | $56,009 |
| 7 | Toledo, OH | $62,190 | $51,222 | $56,008 |
| 8 | Beaumont, TX | $59,800 | $50,229 | $55,782 |
| 67 | Chattanooga, TN | $51,540 | $43,592 | $47,661 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 115 metros →
Machinist salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Kingsport, TN — $57,890
- Memphis, TN — $59,220
- Knoxville, TN — $49,900
- Nashville, TN — $51,430
Frequently asked questions
How much does a machinist make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median machinist salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $51,540 a year, or about $24.78 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $45,790 and $61,540.
What is a machinist’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $51,540 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $43,592 a year ($3,633 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a machinist?
Pay here is 12% below the national median of $58,750. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $47,661 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #67 of 115 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a machinist 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 machinist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers — $70,660
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $49,850
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers — $49,220
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers — $46,820
- Miscellaneous Assembler and Fabricator — $45,330
- Production Workers, All Other — $43,160
- Baker — $40,880
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders — $40,140
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operator and Tender — $37,550