Cost Estimators pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $106,190 or more. The middle half of cost estimators in Chattanooga earn between $56,830 and $91,520.
- $42K10th
- $57K25th
- $70KMedian
- $92K75th
- $106K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $74,460 | $6,205 | $35.80 |
| Median | $70,450 | $5,871 | $33.87 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,830 | $4,736 | $27.32 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $91,520 | $7,627 | $44.00 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Cost Estimators pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Cost estimators in Chattanooga earn 7% less than the Tennessee average ($79,960) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($85,390). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $78,740.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $74,460 | $70,450 | $42,440 | $106,190 | 440 |
| Tennessee | $79,960 | $75,650 | $42,440 | $120,990 | 4,340 |
| United States | $85,390 | $78,740 | $48,530 | $130,820 | 224,220 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Cost Estimators salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $74,460, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $61,213 a year, or $5,101 a month and $2,354 every two weeks. Taxes take 18% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $61,213 | $5,101 |
| Working in GA | $58,246 | $4,854 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for cost estimators? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $74,460 buys what about $81,409 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 4.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Cost Estimators salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 6th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($85,710).
- Nashville$85,710
- Memphis$81,930
- Morristown$78,300
- Knoxville$77,970
- Cleveland$75,310
- Chattanooga$74,460
- Jackson$73,580
- Clarksville$73,180
- Kingsport$71,660
- Johnson City$66,440
Highest-paying cities for cost estimators
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($109,520).
- San Francisco, CA$109,520
- San Jose, CA$108,990
- Boston, MA$108,390
- Amherst, MA$102,520
- Santa Rosa, CA$101,290
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Cost Estimators salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do cost estimators make an hour in Chattanooga?
$35.80 an hour on average, and $33.87 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level cost estimators salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $42,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,830, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the cost estimators take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $61,213 a year ($5,101 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $74,460. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do cost estimators earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less than the U.S. average for this job ($85,390).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 13-1051; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.13, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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