Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,070 or more. The middle half of special education teachers, preschool in Chattanooga earn between $31,750 and $63,810.
- $32K10th
- $32K25th
- $48KMedian
- $64K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $47,530 | $3,961 | — |
| Median | $47,960 | $3,997 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $31,750 | $2,646 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $63,810 | $5,318 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Special education teachers, preschool in Chattanooga earn 20% less than the Tennessee average ($59,100) and 38% less than the U.S. average ($76,380). At the median the gap is -26% against the U.S. median of $64,830.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $47,530 | $47,960 | $31,750 | $74,070 | 70 |
| Tennessee | $59,100 | $59,550 | $44,210 | $77,900 | 330 |
| United States | $76,380 | $64,830 | $45,620 | $130,040 | 29,510 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $47,530, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $40,370 a year, or $3,364 a month and $1,553 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 | $40,370 | $3,364 |
| Working in GA | $38,747 | $3,229 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for special education teachers, preschool? 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 $47,530 buys what about $51,966 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 6.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($66,690).
- Nashville$66,690
- Clarksville$60,380
- Knoxville$57,430
- Memphis$50,840
- Chattanooga$47,530
All Special Education Teachers, Preschool salaries in Tennessee
Highest-paying cities for special education teachers, preschool
New York, NY pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($101,880).
- New York, NY$101,880
- Akron, OH$97,520
- Boston, MA$97,020
- San Diego, CA$95,070
- Seattle, WA$94,820
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Special Education Teachers, Preschool salary in Chattanooga: questions
What is the entry-level special education teachers, preschool salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $31,750, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the special education teachers, preschool take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $40,370 a year ($3,364 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $47,530. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do special education teachers, preschool earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 38% less than the U.S. average for this job ($76,380).
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 25-2051; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.8%.
- 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 1.29, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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