Software Developer Salary in Chattanooga, TN
Software Developers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median $106,750 a year — 21% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $83,929 take-home, or $6,994 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median software developer salary in Chattanooga, TN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,655
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,619
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,548
- Tennessee income tax$0
- Take-home pay$83,929
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro spans Tennessee, Georgia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Software Developer pay by experience in Chattanooga, TN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,230 | $30.88 | $53,789 | $4,482 |
| 25th percentile | $81,750 | $39.30 | $66,341 | $5,528 |
| Median (50th) | $106,750 | $51.32 | $83,929 | $6,994 |
| 75th percentile | $133,280 | $64.08 | $102,363 | $8,530 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,130 | $78.43 | $122,765 | $10,230 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Tennessee resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $106,750 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 software developer's $83,929 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,761 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Software Developer jobs are less concentrated in Chattanooga, TN than nationally (location quotient 0.34), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for software developers, adjusted for cost of living
Chattanooga, TN ranks #121 of 184 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose, CA | $213,110 | $140,222 | $126,987 |
| 2 | Manchester, NH | $162,090 | $122,055 | $115,520 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $167,280 | $125,602 | $113,019 |
| 4 | Boulder, CO | $164,560 | $117,211 | $111,415 |
| 5 | El Paso, TX | $127,310 | $98,282 | $109,310 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $166,090 | $116,704 | $107,794 |
| 7 | Ames, IA | $129,440 | $95,471 | $107,476 |
| 8 | Bridgeport, CT | $162,650 | $114,828 | $107,453 |
| 121 | Chattanooga, TN | $106,750 | $83,929 | $91,761 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 184 metros →
Software Developer salaries elsewhere in Tennessee
- Memphis, TN — $125,580
- Knoxville, TN — $121,750
- Nashville, TN — $126,610
Frequently asked questions
How much does a software developer make in Chattanooga, TN?
The median software developer salary in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $106,750 a year, or about $51.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $81,750 and $133,280.
What is a software developer’s take-home pay in Chattanooga, TN?
On the median $106,750 salary, a single filer living in Tennessee takes home about $83,929 a year ($6,994 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare in 2026.
Is Chattanooga, TN a good place to work as a software developer?
Pay here is 21% below the national median of $135,980. Local prices are 8.5% below the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,761 would in a typical U.S. city. Chattanooga, TN ranks #121 of 184 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a software developer 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) — 18% of a median software developer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN
- Computer Systems Analyst — $93,350
- Computer Occupations, All Other — $65,230
- Computer User Support Specialist — $55,430