Transportation Inspectors Salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
In Chattanooga, TN-GA, transportation inspectors earn $42,740 at the median, or about $20.55 an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $96K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $46,731 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 transportation inspectors
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Chattanooga, TN-GA
Entry-level transportation inspectors (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $43K. Top earners bring in $96K or more, a $60K spread from bottom to top.
Transportation Inspectors pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $138K | +61% | 200 |
| Idaho | $107K | +25% | 90 |
| Hawaii | $106K | +23% | 170 |
| Oklahoma | $104K | +22% | 190 |
| North Dakota | $104K | +22% | 60 |
| District of Columbia | $104K | +21% | 140 |
| Kansas | $104K | +21% | 230 |
| Wisconsin | $100K | +17% | 100 |
| Georgia | $98K | +14% | 830 |
| Nevada | $98K | +14% | 230 |
| Washington | $97K | +14% | 420 |
| Maryland | $95K | +11% | 250 |
| Iowa | $95K | +11% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $93K | +8% | 510 |
| New York | $91K | +6% | 3,730 |
| Florida | $87K | +1% | 1,670 |
| Oregon | $85K | -0% | 210 |
| Delaware | $85K | -1% | 70 |
| Texas | $84K | -2% | 2,890 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -3% | 130 |
| Nebraska | $83K | -4% | 150 |
| Kentucky | $82K | -4% | 270 |
| Michigan | $81K | -5% | 310 |
| Connecticut | $80K | -7% | 210 |
| Ohio | $80K | -7% | 440 |
| Louisiana | $79K | -8% | 150 |
| South Carolina | $79K | -8% | 350 |
| Indiana | $78K | -9% | 320 |
| South Dakota | $77K | -10% | 100 |
| Mississippi | $77K | -10% | N/A |
| California | $76K | -12% | 1,900 |
| North Carolina | $76K | -12% | 450 |
| Pennsylvania | $75K | -12% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $74K | -13% | 430 |
| Virginia | $73K | -15% | 340 |
| Alabama | $71K | -18% | 160 |
| New Mexico | $64K | -26% | 140 |
| Utah | $63K | -27% | 240 |
| Missouri | $63K | -27% | 340 |
| Illinois | $58K | -33% | 980 |
| Maine | $55K | -36% | 120 |
| New Jersey | $55K | -36% | 1,020 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -41% | 90 |
| Montana | $49K | -43% | 240 |
| Arizona | $46K | -46% | 930 |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track transportation inspectors salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
How much do transportation inspectors make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $42,740 a year, that works out to about $21 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,190, and experienced transportation inspectors can clear $95,690. 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 $3,032/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 transportation inspectors 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 transportation inspectors salary is worth about $46,731 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do transportation inspectors 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.