Dental Assistants pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,560 a year or less, while the top 10% make $60,040 or more. The middle half of dental assistants in Chattanooga earn between $39,390 and $56,590.
- $38K10th
- $39K25th
- $46KMedian
- $57K75th
- $60K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $48,020 | $4,002 | $23.09 |
| Median | $46,360 | $3,863 | $22.29 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $39,390 | $3,282 | $18.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $56,590 | $4,716 | $27.21 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Dental Assistants pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Dental assistants in Chattanooga earn 3% less than the Tennessee average ($49,670) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($50,200). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $48,070.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $48,020 | $46,360 | $37,560 | $60,040 | 670 |
| Tennessee | $49,670 | $46,720 | $37,810 | $61,260 | 7,420 |
| United States | $50,200 | $48,070 | $37,130 | $62,250 | 387,790 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Dental Assistants salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $48,020, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $40,764 a year, or $3,397 a month and $1,568 every two weeks. Taxes take 15% 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 | $40,764 | $3,397 |
| Working in GA | $39,116 | $3,260 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for dental assistants? 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 $48,020 buys what about $52,502 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Dental Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($52,320).
- Nashville$52,320
- Knoxville$49,500
- Memphis$49,340
- Jackson$48,450
- Chattanooga$48,020
- Clarksville$46,970
- Morristown$46,900
- Johnson City$46,210
- Kingsport$46,110
- Cleveland$45,670
Highest-paying cities for dental assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($71,150).
- San Jose, CA$71,150
- Minneapolis, MN$67,420
- San Francisco, CA$64,900
- Santa Rosa, CA$62,500
- Rochester, MN$61,860
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Dental Assistants salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do dental assistants make an hour in Chattanooga?
$23.09 an hour on average, and $22.29 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level dental assistants salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,560 a year and the 25th percentile is $39,390, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the dental assistants take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $40,764 a year ($3,397 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $48,020. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do dental assistants earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less than the U.S. average for this job ($50,200).
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 31-9091; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 1.00, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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