Retail Salespersons Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Retail Salespersons in Chattanooga, TN-GA make a median of $29,830 a year, or about $14.34 an hour. The range runs from $22K at the entry level to $46K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $32,615 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,390/month — about 62.6% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $30K 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 retail salespersons
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level retail salespersons (10th percentile) start around $22K. Mid-career wages sit at $30K. Top earners bring in $46K or more, a $23K spread from bottom to top.
Retail Salespersons pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $38K | +11% | 86,050 |
| District of Columbia | $38K | +9% | 4,470 |
| California | $37K | +8% | 352,860 |
| New York | $37K | +7% | 233,740 |
| Alaska | $37K | +7% | 7,790 |
| Vermont | $37K | +6% | 7,930 |
| Maine | $36K | +5% | 17,210 |
| Massachusetts | $36K | +5% | 86,410 |
| Oregon | $36K | +5% | 47,930 |
| Hawaii | $36K | +4% | 18,140 |
| North Dakota | $36K | +3% | 10,450 |
| New Jersey | $36K | +3% | 87,760 |
| New Hampshire | $35K | +2% | 20,460 |
| Connecticut | $35K | +2% | 41,890 |
| Arizona | $35K | +2% | 88,490 |
| Minnesota | $35K | +2% | 69,640 |
| Montana | $35K | +1% | 13,500 |
| Rhode Island | $35K | +1% | 11,460 |
| Illinois | $34K | -0% | 132,880 |
| Maryland | $34K | -1% | 72,010 |
| Utah | $34K | -1% | 39,580 |
| South Dakota | $34K | -1% | 13,070 |
| Delaware | $34K | -1% | 13,470 |
| Wisconsin | $34K | -3% | 67,610 |
| Nevada | $33K | -3% | 41,880 |
| Idaho | $33K | -3% | 20,670 |
| Michigan | $33K | -4% | 111,210 |
| Virginia | $33K | -5% | 101,260 |
| Florida | $32K | -8% | 325,960 |
| Kansas | $32K | -8% | 30,390 |
| Wyoming | $31K | -9% | 9,190 |
| New Mexico | $31K | -9% | 23,260 |
| Missouri | $31K | -10% | 63,100 |
| Tennessee | $31K | -11% | 85,810 |
| Ohio | $30K | -12% | 127,070 |
| Pennsylvania | $30K | -12% | 143,460 |
| Nebraska | $30K | -12% | 22,820 |
| Indiana | $30K | -12% | 82,400 |
| Texas | $30K | -13% | 329,520 |
| North Carolina | $30K | -13% | 126,060 |
| Iowa | $30K | -13% | 37,600 |
| Georgia | $30K | -14% | 142,520 |
| Oklahoma | $30K | -14% | 41,590 |
| Kentucky | $29K | -15% | 47,680 |
| South Carolina | $29K | -15% | 69,010 |
| Alabama | $29K | -15% | 60,330 |
| Arkansas | $29K | -15% | 31,350 |
| Louisiana | $29K | -17% | 51,540 |
| West Virginia | $28K | -19% | 18,290 |
| Mississippi | $28K | -20% | 36,330 |
Showing 1–10 of 50 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track retail salespersons salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do retail salespersons make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $29,830 a year, that works out to about $14 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $22,090, and experienced retail salespersons can clear $45,530. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $30K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $2,167/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 64.1% 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 retail salespersons 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 retail salespersons salary is worth about $32,615 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do retail salespersons 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.