Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary Salary
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA make a median of $74,450 a year. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $81,402 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,390/month, or 26.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $74K 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondary in Chattanooga runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $93K. Rent runs $1,390/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27.5% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $88K | $96K |
| Memphis | $76K | $82K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $103K | $103K |
| St. Louis | $101K | $106K |
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 chemistry teachers, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $74K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $90K spread from bottom to top.
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $133K | +43% | 1,650 |
| North Dakota | $111K | +19% | 60 |
| Massachusetts | $108K | +16% | 820 |
| Delaware | $105K | +12% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $104K | +12% | 430 |
| Arizona | $104K | +11% | 210 |
| District of Columbia | $103K | +11% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $102K | +10% | 70 |
| Utah | $102K | +10% | 200 |
| Nevada | $102K | +9% | 60 |
| Maryland | $102K | +9% | 310 |
| Oregon | $101K | +9% | 460 |
| Michigan | $101K | +8% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | +8% | 110 |
| New York | $100K | +7% | 1,840 |
| Illinois | $98K | +5% | 880 |
| Colorado | $97K | +4% | 330 |
| Pennsylvania | $95K | +2% | 1,270 |
| Kansas | $94K | +1% | 170 |
| Washington | $86K | -8% | 390 |
| Georgia | $85K | -9% | 500 |
| Maine | $85K | -9% | 70 |
| New Mexico | $85K | -9% | 80 |
| Nebraska | $85K | -9% | 150 |
| Montana | $85K | -9% | 80 |
| Louisiana | $84K | -10% | 140 |
| Wisconsin | $83K | -10% | 450 |
| Missouri | $83K | -11% | 460 |
| Wyoming | $83K | -11% | 30 |
| Kentucky | $83K | -11% | 250 |
| Iowa | $82K | -12% | 230 |
| West Virginia | $82K | -12% | 90 |
| Texas | $82K | -12% | 1,470 |
| New Jersey | $82K | -12% | 750 |
| Indiana | $82K | -13% | 530 |
| South Carolina | $81K | -13% | 270 |
| Virginia | $80K | -14% | 760 |
| Tennessee | $79K | -15% | 370 |
| Connecticut | $79K | -15% | 350 |
| North Carolina | $79K | -16% | 900 |
| Vermont | $79K | -16% | 90 |
| Ohio | $78K | -16% | 700 |
| Florida | $78K | -17% | 340 |
| Alabama | $76K | -18% | 310 |
| South Dakota | $76K | -19% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $66K | -29% | 130 |
| Arkansas | $65K | -31% | 110 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -31% | 220 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a chemistry teachers, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
Yes — at the median salary of $74K, rent takes 27.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,390/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new chemistry teachers, postsecondaries typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,851/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is chemistry teachers, postsecondary a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $74K here vs. $93K nationally. Cost of living is 9% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for chemistry teachers, postsecondaries?
Chattanooga pays $74K median vs. the U.S. average of $93K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $81K — below the national median.
How much do chemistry teachers, postsecondaries make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $74,450 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,510, and experienced chemistry teachers, postsecondaries can clear $137,280. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $74K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,063/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 27.5% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a chemistry teachers, postsecondary 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 chemistry teachers, postsecondary salary is worth about $81,402 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do chemistry teachers, postsecondaries 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.