Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,130 a year or less, while the top 10% make $36,550 or more. The middle half of food servers, nonrestaurant in Chattanooga earn between $27,220 and $33,040.
- $23K10th
- $27K25th
- $31KMedian
- $33K75th
- $37K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $30,620 | $2,552 | $14.72 |
| Median | $30,740 | $2,562 | $14.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $27,220 | $2,268 | $13.09 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $33,040 | $2,753 | $15.88 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Food servers, nonrestaurant in Chattanooga earn 6% less than the Tennessee average ($32,590) and 15% less than the U.S. average ($36,140). At the median the gap is -13% against the U.S. median of $35,360.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $30,620 | $30,740 | $23,130 | $36,550 | 350 |
| Tennessee | $32,590 | $30,670 | $22,620 | $46,750 | 5,230 |
| United States | $36,140 | $35,360 | $28,030 | $46,120 | 293,900 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $30,620, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $26,783 a year, or $2,232 a month and $1,030 every two weeks. Taxes take 13% 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 | $26,783 | $2,232 |
| Working in GA | $26,004 | $2,167 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for food servers, nonrestaurant? 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 $30,620 buys what about $33,478 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 10.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($35,250).
- Nashville$35,250
- Memphis$32,430
- Jackson$31,070
- Knoxville$30,730
- Chattanooga$30,620
- Cleveland$30,540
- Kingsport$29,850
- Clarksville$28,220
- Johnson City$27,700
Highest-paying cities for food servers, nonrestaurant
Kahului, HI pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($59,020).
- Kahului, HI$59,020
- San Jose, CA$50,590
- San Francisco, CA$48,600
- Napa, CA$48,550
- Vallejo, CA$46,710
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Food Servers, Nonrestaurant salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do food servers, nonrestaurant make an hour in Chattanooga?
$14.72 an hour on average, and $14.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level food servers, nonrestaurant salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $23,130 a year and the 25th percentile is $27,220, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the food servers, nonrestaurant take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $26,783 a year ($2,232 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $30,620. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do food servers, nonrestaurant earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% less than the U.S. average for this job ($36,140).
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 35-3041; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.1%.
- 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 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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