Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Salary
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians in Chattanooga, TN-GA make a median of $58,070 a year, or about $27.92 an hour. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $81K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $63,492 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month, about 34.5% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $58K 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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians pay in Chattanooga tracks closely to the national median, $58K locally vs. $63K nationwide, a 8% difference. Rent runs $1,390/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.3% 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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $65K | $68K |
| Memphis | $64K | $69K |
| Knoxville | $59K | $63K |
| Johnson City | $51K | $58K |
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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $58K. Top earners bring in $81K or more, a $44K spread from bottom to top.
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $97K | +55% | 16,460 |
| Oregon | $83K | +32% | 2,660 |
| New Hampshire | $81K | +29% | 800 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +26% | 10,850 |
| Vermont | $79K | +25% | 460 |
| District of Columbia | $77K | +22% | 960 |
| California | $76K | +21% | 29,210 |
| Rhode Island | $76K | +20% | 1,060 |
| Minnesota | $74K | +18% | 7,190 |
| Washington | $73K | +16% | 7,430 |
| Illinois | $72K | +14% | 10,330 |
| Colorado | $70K | +11% | 5,000 |
| Maine | $69K | +9% | 1,250 |
| Delaware | $69K | +9% | 690 |
| New Jersey | $68K | +9% | 7,000 |
| Hawaii | $66K | +5% | 1,090 |
| Wyoming | $66K | +4% | 450 |
| Connecticut | $65K | +4% | 3,670 |
| Montana | $65K | +4% | 1,020 |
| Ohio | $64K | +1% | 13,050 |
| Maryland | $64K | +1% | 6,200 |
| North Dakota | $63K | -0% | 1,370 |
| Arizona | $63K | -1% | 6,440 |
| Georgia | $62K | -1% | 11,540 |
| Tennessee | $62K | -1% | 8,410 |
| Kansas | $62K | -1% | 3,930 |
| West Virginia | $62K | -2% | 1,800 |
| Michigan | $61K | -3% | 10,000 |
| Virginia | $61K | -3% | 7,150 |
| Alaska | $61K | -3% | 680 |
| South Dakota | $61K | -3% | 1,280 |
| Kentucky | $61K | -3% | 4,860 |
| Wisconsin | $61K | -4% | 8,480 |
| North Carolina | $61K | -4% | 13,710 |
| Nebraska | $61K | -4% | 1,930 |
| Florida | $61K | -4% | 25,790 |
| Missouri | $60K | -4% | 7,670 |
| Texas | $59K | -6% | 29,530 |
| Nevada | $57K | -9% | 2,040 |
| Indiana | $57K | -9% | 7,210 |
| South Carolina | $55K | -12% | 4,380 |
| Louisiana | $54K | -13% | 3,790 |
| Iowa | $54K | -14% | 3,240 |
| Oklahoma | $53K | -15% | 4,250 |
| Pennsylvania | $52K | -18% | 13,020 |
| Mississippi | $51K | -20% | 3,070 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -21% | 3,180 |
| Alabama | $49K | -21% | 7,250 |
| Utah | $49K | -22% | 6,370 |
| Idaho | $47K | -25% | 1,590 |
| New Mexico | $47K | -25% | 2,160 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
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Frequently asked questions
Can a clinical laboratory technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $58K, rent takes 34.3% 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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new clinical laboratory technologists and technicians typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,251/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 62% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is clinical laboratory technologists and technician a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $58K locally vs. $63K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for clinical laboratory technologists and technicians?
Chattanooga pays $58K 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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $58,070 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $37,520, and experienced clinical laboratory technologists and technicians can clear $81,400. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $58K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,058/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 34.3% 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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians 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 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians salary is worth about $63,492 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do clinical laboratory technologists and technicians 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.