Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs Salary
In Chattanooga, TN-GA, eligibility interviewers, government programs earn $42,760 at the median, or about $20.56 an hour. The range runs from $35K at the entry level to $51K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $46,753 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month, about 45.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $43K 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 eligibility interviewers, government programs
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Chattanooga
Pay for eligibility interviewers, government programs in Chattanooga runs about 21% below the U.S. median of $54K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,390/month, which is 45.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. 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. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for eligibility interviewers, government programss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for eligibility interviewers, government programs in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis | $50K | $54K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $46K | $48K |
| Knoxville | $45K | $49K |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $41K | $48K |
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 eligibility interviewers, government programs (10th percentile) start around $35K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $51K or more, a $16K spread from bottom to top.
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $74K | +37% | 640 |
| Connecticut | $72K | +33% | 1,250 |
| Michigan | $67K | +23% | 5,060 |
| Washington | $66K | +22% | 3,880 |
| Massachusetts | $65K | +19% | 1,700 |
| Rhode Island | $65K | +19% | 570 |
| California | $64K | +17% | 30,960 |
| Minnesota | $63K | +16% | 2,910 |
| Illinois | $62K | +14% | 1,740 |
| Alaska | $62K | +14% | 400 |
| Iowa | $61K | +13% | 1,040 |
| Montana | $59K | +9% | 550 |
| Pennsylvania | $59K | +9% | 10,280 |
| Colorado | $59K | +8% | 3,140 |
| Vermont | $59K | +8% | 310 |
| New Hampshire | $57K | +6% | 240 |
| Maryland | $57K | +5% | 3,710 |
| Oregon | $56K | +3% | 1,740 |
| Nevada | $55K | +2% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $55K | +1% | 610 |
| Alabama | $54K | -0% | 2,720 |
| New York | $53K | -1% | 10,220 |
| New Mexico | $53K | -2% | 790 |
| Utah | $53K | -3% | 1,960 |
| Idaho | $53K | -3% | 240 |
| South Dakota | $52K | -3% | 470 |
| Kentucky | $52K | -4% | 1,710 |
| North Dakota | $52K | -4% | 410 |
| Wisconsin | $51K | -5% | 1,610 |
| New Jersey | $51K | -5% | 920 |
| Virginia | $51K | -6% | 4,290 |
| Maine | $51K | -6% | 620 |
| Nebraska | $50K | -7% | 220 |
| Ohio | $50K | -8% | 4,300 |
| Kansas | $50K | -8% | 810 |
| Tennessee | $49K | -9% | 4,060 |
| Oklahoma | $49K | -9% | 520 |
| Louisiana | $48K | -11% | 740 |
| North Carolina | $47K | -13% | 7,740 |
| Texas | $47K | -14% | 12,020 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -16% | 610 |
| Georgia | $45K | -18% | 6,120 |
| West Virginia | $44K | -19% | 250 |
| Delaware | $43K | -21% | 120 |
| Missouri | $43K | -21% | 4,130 |
| Arizona | $42K | -23% | 3,440 |
| Indiana | $40K | -26% | 3,000 |
| South Carolina | $39K | -29% | 1,750 |
| Florida | $37K | -31% | 5,880 |
| Mississippi | $37K | -32% | 1,760 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track eligibility interviewers, government programs salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
Related careers in Office & Admin
Frequently asked questions
Can a eligibility interviewers, government program afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $43K, rent takes 45.8% 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 $900/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for eligibility interviewers, government programs in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new eligibility interviewers, government programs typically earn — is $35K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,070/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 67% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is eligibility interviewers, government program a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Local pay runs 21% below the national median — $43K here vs. $54K 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 eligibility interviewers, government programs?
Chattanooga pays $43K median vs. the U.S. average of $54K — that’s -21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $47K — below the national median.
How much do eligibility interviewers, government programs make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $42,760 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $34,500, and experienced eligibility interviewers, government programs can clear $50,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $43K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,033/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 45.8% 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 eligibility interviewers, government programs 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 eligibility interviewers, government programs salary is worth about $46,753 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do eligibility interviewers, government programs 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.