Fundraisers Salary
Fundraisers in Chattanooga, TN-GA make a median of $59,550 a year, or about $28.63 an hour. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $93K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $65,110 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month, about 33.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $60K 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 fundraisers
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Pay for fundraisers in Chattanooga runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $73K. Rent runs $1,390/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 33.4% 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 fundraisers in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $64K | $66K |
| Memphis | $66K | $72K |
| Knoxville | $59K | $64K |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $57K | $65K |
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 fundraisers (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $60K. Top earners bring in $93K or more, a $51K spread from bottom to top.
Fundraisers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Fundraisers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $81K | +11% | 2,350 |
| New York | $81K | +11% | 11,600 |
| Maryland | $80K | +10% | 2,010 |
| California | $80K | +10% | 12,860 |
| Massachusetts | $79K | +9% | 6,160 |
| Washington | $79K | +9% | 3,870 |
| Connecticut | $78K | +7% | 1,350 |
| New Jersey | $77K | +6% | 1,950 |
| Minnesota | $77K | +6% | 3,190 |
| North Dakota | $76K | +5% | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $75K | +4% | 1,000 |
| Colorado | $74K | +3% | 2,470 |
| Virginia | $73K | +0% | 4,010 |
| Vermont | $73K | -0% | 510 |
| Louisiana | $72K | -1% | 330 |
| Georgia | $72K | -1% | 2,690 |
| Wyoming | $71K | -2% | 90 |
| Delaware | $71K | -2% | 320 |
| Nevada | $69K | -6% | 310 |
| Kentucky | $68K | -6% | 1,030 |
| Nebraska | $68K | -6% | 770 |
| South Dakota | $67K | -8% | 80 |
| Maine | $67K | -8% | 930 |
| Illinois | $66K | -8% | 4,470 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | -9% | 810 |
| Indiana | $66K | -9% | 2,080 |
| Michigan | $66K | -9% | 3,170 |
| North Carolina | $66K | -9% | 3,700 |
| Wisconsin | $66K | -9% | 2,130 |
| New Mexico | $65K | -10% | 330 |
| Kansas | $65K | -11% | 1,100 |
| Florida | $64K | -11% | N/A |
| Arizona | $64K | -12% | 1,580 |
| Oregon | $64K | -12% | 2,090 |
| Ohio | $64K | -12% | 3,460 |
| Oklahoma | $64K | -12% | 950 |
| Iowa | $64K | -12% | 1,230 |
| Missouri | $64K | -12% | 1,670 |
| Hawaii | $64K | -12% | 440 |
| Pennsylvania | $64K | -12% | 6,180 |
| Alaska | $63K | -14% | 290 |
| South Carolina | $63K | -14% | 1,200 |
| Utah | $62K | -15% | 920 |
| Tennessee | $61K | -15% | 1,930 |
| Montana | $61K | -16% | 700 |
| Idaho | $61K | -16% | 380 |
| Texas | $60K | -17% | 4,020 |
| Alabama | $60K | -17% | 1,120 |
| Mississippi | $58K | -21% | 230 |
| West Virginia | $55K | -25% | 260 |
| Arkansas | $50K | -31% | 360 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track fundraisers salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a fundraiser afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $60K, rent takes 33.4% 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 fundraisers in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new fundraisers typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,521/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 fundraiser a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $60K here vs. $73K 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 fundraisers?
Chattanooga pays $60K median vs. the U.S. average of $73K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $65K — below the national median.
How much do fundraisers make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $59,550 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,010, and experienced fundraisers can clear $92,510. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $60K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,157/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 33.4% 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 fundraisers 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 fundraisers salary is worth about $65,110 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do fundraisers 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.