Chef Salary in Chattanooga, TN — 2026 Guide
Estimated salaries are adjusted for Chattanooga's cost of living (index: 92). National data from BLS OEWS 2024; city adjustments reflect local market conditions.
Chef Salary in Chattanooga — Key Numbers
Cost of Living in Chattanooga
Rent-to-income below 28% is considered affordable; above 35% is cost-burdened. Home price multiple below 3× is affordable; above 5× is expensive by traditional guidelines.
Job Market in Chattanooga
Chattanooga has a metro population of 580,000, offering a sizeable job market with strong opportunities across key sectors. The 3.3% unemployment rate is below the national average, suggesting a tight labor market favorable to job seekers.
Financial Calculators for Chattanooga
Other Professions in Chattanooga
Chef Salary — Other Tennessee Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Chef make in Chattanooga, TN?
The estimated median salary for a Chef in Chattanooga is $54,206 per year (2026). This is derived from the national BLS median of $58,920 adjusted by Chattanooga's cost of living index (92). The typical salary range runs from $39,422 (25th percentile) to $74,134 (75th percentile), with top earners reaching $97,262.
Is Chattanooga affordable for a Chef?
On a $54,206 annual salary, a Chef in Chattanooga would spend approximately 24.4% of gross monthly income on median rent ($1,100/month). This is well within the 28% affordability threshold, making Chattanooga relatively affordable for this profession. The median home price of $270,000 is 5.0× the annual salary.
How does a Chef's salary compare to Chattanooga's overall income?
Chattanooga's median household income is $57,800. A Chef earning the city-adjusted median of $54,206 earns 6.2% less than the typical Chattanooga household income. This may reflect that the profession is entry-level or that Chattanooga has a particularly high median household income due to high-earning industries.
Explore More Salary Data
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS, 2024 release. City salary estimates adjusted by cost of living index. City data from Census Bureau, BLS, Zillow, and ApartmentAdvisor (2024–2025). Last updated: March 2026.