Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians Salary
In Chattanooga, TN-GA, environmental engineering technologists and technicians earn $72,860 at the median, or about $35.03 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $97K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $79,663 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,390/month, or 27.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $73K 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Chattanooga sits well above the national pay line for environmental engineering technologists and technicians, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $60K. Rent runs $1,390/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $91K | $99K |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $66K | $68K |
| Memphis | $76K | $83K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $47K | $50K |
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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $73K. Top earners bring in $97K or more, a $55K spread from bottom to top.
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $100K | +67% | 270 |
| Oregon | $81K | +35% | 140 |
| Tennessee | $80K | +34% | 450 |
| Alaska | $78K | +30% | 40 |
| Nevada | $75K | +26% | 70 |
| Maryland | $68K | +13% | 250 |
| Massachusetts | $67K | +12% | 320 |
| Arizona | $65K | +9% | 190 |
| Maine | $65K | +8% | N/A |
| South Carolina | $63K | +5% | 220 |
| New York | $63K | +4% | 470 |
| Idaho | $62K | +4% | 80 |
| Oklahoma | $62K | +3% | 370 |
| Kentucky | $61K | +3% | 200 |
| New Mexico | $61K | +2% | 130 |
| Louisiana | $61K | +2% | 100 |
| Colorado | $61K | +1% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $61K | +1% | 400 |
| Georgia | $61K | +1% | 670 |
| Utah | $60K | +1% | 120 |
| Alabama | $60K | +0% | 230 |
| Minnesota | $60K | +0% | 50 |
| California | $60K | +0% | 2,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $60K | +0% | 250 |
| Kansas | $59K | -1% | N/A |
| Montana | $59K | -2% | 80 |
| Iowa | $59K | -2% | 80 |
| Texas | $57K | -5% | 1,240 |
| Nebraska | $55K | -9% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $54K | -10% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $54K | -10% | 120 |
| Indiana | $53K | -11% | 130 |
| Virginia | $52K | -13% | N/A |
| Florida | $52K | -13% | 420 |
| Ohio | $52K | -14% | 630 |
| Hawaii | $52K | -14% | 50 |
| Illinois | $52K | -14% | 80 |
| Michigan | $51K | -15% | 220 |
| Wisconsin | $49K | -18% | 310 |
| West Virginia | $48K | -20% | 40 |
| Arkansas | $45K | -24% | 200 |
| New Hampshire | $40K | -33% | N/A |
| Mississippi | $37K | -39% | 100 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track environmental engineering technologists and technicians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a environmental engineering technologists and technician afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
Yes — at the median salary of $73K, rent takes 28% 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new environmental engineering technologists and technicians typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,528/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 55% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is environmental engineering technologists and technician a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $73K here vs. $60K nationally.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for environmental engineering technologists and technicians?
Chattanooga pays $73K median vs. the U.S. average of $60K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $80K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do environmental engineering technologists and technicians make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $72,860 a year, that works out to about $35 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,130, and experienced environmental engineering technologists and technicians can clear $97,200. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $73K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,970/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 28% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a environmental engineering 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 environmental engineering technologists and technicians salary is worth about $79,663 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do environmental engineering 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.
