Athletic Trainers Salary
The median pay for a athletic trainers in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $57,350/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $72K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $62,705 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month, about 34.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $57K get you in Chattanooga?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Chattanooga’s Regional Price Parity (91.46). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About athletic trainers
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Athletic trainers pay in Chattanooga tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,390/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.7% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.46 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for athletic trainers in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $62K | $64K |
| Memphis | $58K | $63K |
| Knoxville | $60K | $64K |
| Gainesville | $60K | $62K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level athletic trainers (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $72K or more, a $22K spread from bottom to top.
Athletic Trainers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Athletic Trainers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $78K | +26% | 1,760 |
| Hawaii | $76K | +22% | 200 |
| New Jersey | $76K | +22% | 890 |
| District of Columbia | $74K | +19% | 100 |
| New Mexico | $72K | +16% | 150 |
| Massachusetts | $70K | +12% | 630 |
| Connecticut | $70K | +12% | 290 |
| New York | $66K | +6% | 1,370 |
| Utah | $66K | +6% | 340 |
| Minnesota | $65K | +5% | 820 |
| Illinois | $65K | +4% | 850 |
| Georgia | $65K | +3% | 860 |
| Colorado | $65K | +3% | 380 |
| Texas | $64K | +3% | 3,130 |
| Maryland | $64K | +2% | 320 |
| Washington | $64K | +2% | 240 |
| Rhode Island | $64K | +2% | N/A |
| Wyoming | $63K | +1% | 60 |
| Vermont | $63K | +1% | 140 |
| Indiana | $63K | +0% | 1,040 |
| Louisiana | $63K | +0% | 810 |
| Maine | $62K | -1% | 180 |
| Virginia | $62K | -1% | 830 |
| Wisconsin | $62K | -1% | 620 |
| Arizona | $62K | -1% | 590 |
| Ohio | $61K | -2% | 2,100 |
| Florida | $61K | -2% | 1,430 |
| Oklahoma | $61K | -2% | 360 |
| Pennsylvania | $61K | -2% | 1,870 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -2% | 270 |
| North Dakota | $61K | -3% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -3% | 720 |
| Idaho | $60K | -3% | 170 |
| New Hampshire | $60K | -4% | 210 |
| Montana | $60K | -4% | 50 |
| Tennessee | $60K | -4% | 580 |
| Nevada | $60K | -4% | 180 |
| Delaware | $60K | -5% | 50 |
| Michigan | $59K | -5% | 870 |
| South Carolina | $59K | -5% | 530 |
| Kansas | $59K | -5% | 390 |
| Missouri | $59K | -6% | 510 |
| South Dakota | $59K | -6% | 150 |
| Mississippi | $58K | -7% | 200 |
| Oregon | $58K | -8% | 280 |
| Arkansas | $57K | -8% | 240 |
| North Carolina | $57K | -10% | 990 |
| Iowa | $55K | -11% | 570 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -19% | 110 |
| Alabama | $47K | -25% | 840 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track athletic trainers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a athletic trainer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 34.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,390/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for athletic trainers in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new athletic trainers typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,998/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 46% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is athletic trainer a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for athletic trainers?
Chattanooga pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $63K — that’s -8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $63K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do athletic trainers make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $57,350 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,960, and experienced athletic trainers can clear $72,010. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,010/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 34.7% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a athletic trainers salary go in Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has a Regional Price Parity of 91.46 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median athletic trainers salary is worth about $62,705 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do athletic trainers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.