Veterinarians Salary
The median pay for a veterinarians in Chattanooga, TN-GA is $125,790/year ($60.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $171K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.46), which stretches that salary to about $137,536 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,390/month, or 17.1% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $126K 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 veterinarians
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What this looks like in Chattanooga
Veterinarians pay in Chattanooga tracks closely to the national median, $126K locally vs. $130K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,390/month, 17.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. 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 veterinarians in metros near Chattanooga, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $126K | $131K |
| Memphis | $125K | $136K |
| Knoxville | $121K | $131K |
| Clarksville | $111K | $122K |
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 veterinarians (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $126K. Top earners bring in $171K or more, a $74K spread from bottom to top.
Veterinarians pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Veterinarians salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $164K | +26% | 9,170 |
| Maryland | $163K | +25% | 1,430 |
| Washington | $161K | +23% | 2,390 |
| New Jersey | $160K | +23% | 1,910 |
| Arizona | $152K | +17% | 2,080 |
| Massachusetts | $140K | +8% | 1,920 |
| District of Columbia | $135K | +3% | 190 |
| Illinois | $134K | +3% | 2,330 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +3% | 3,490 |
| Minnesota | $133K | +2% | 2,140 |
| New York | $132K | +1% | 3,390 |
| Vermont | $132K | +1% | 280 |
| Florida | $132K | +1% | 5,360 |
| Texas | $131K | +1% | 6,270 |
| Colorado | $131K | +1% | 2,340 |
| Maine | $131K | +0% | 600 |
| Hawaii | $130K | +0% | 370 |
| New Mexico | $129K | -1% | 460 |
| North Carolina | $129K | -1% | 2,940 |
| West Virginia | $129K | -1% | 390 |
| Oregon | $129K | -1% | 1,660 |
| New Hampshire | $128K | -1% | 650 |
| Virginia | $127K | -3% | 2,700 |
| Georgia | $127K | -3% | 2,670 |
| Rhode Island | $127K | -3% | 430 |
| Connecticut | $126K | -3% | 950 |
| Nevada | $126K | -3% | 680 |
| Michigan | $125K | -4% | 2,030 |
| Ohio | $125K | -4% | 3,430 |
| Iowa | $125K | -4% | 1,000 |
| Indiana | $125K | -4% | 1,500 |
| Louisiana | $124K | -4% | 950 |
| Tennessee | $124K | -4% | 1,730 |
| Utah | $124K | -5% | 640 |
| South Carolina | $122K | -6% | 1,380 |
| Idaho | $116K | -11% | 540 |
| Missouri | $115K | -12% | 1,920 |
| Wisconsin | $109K | -16% | 1,830 |
| Arkansas | $108K | -17% | 540 |
| Kansas | $107K | -18% | 1,000 |
| Alabama | $106K | -19% | 1,020 |
| Mississippi | $105K | -19% | 480 |
| Kentucky | $104K | -20% | 1,190 |
| Nebraska | $104K | -20% | 780 |
| North Dakota | $102K | -21% | 270 |
| Montana | $99K | -24% | 510 |
| Oklahoma | $98K | -25% | 1,150 |
| Wyoming | $97K | -25% | 140 |
| South Dakota | $89K | -32% | 280 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track veterinarians salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Chattanooga numbers change.
Related careers in Healthcare
Frequently asked questions
Can a veterinarian afford a 2BR apartment alone in Chattanooga?
Yes — at the median salary of $126K, rent takes 17.2% 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 veterinarians in Chattanooga?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new veterinarians typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,858/month. At HUD’s $1,390/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is veterinarian a high-paying job in Chattanooga?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $126K locally vs. $130K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Chattanooga compare to the national average for veterinarians?
Chattanooga pays $126K median vs. the U.S. average of $130K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.46), the purchasing-power equivalent is $138K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do veterinarians make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median is $125,790 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,630, and experienced veterinarians can clear $171,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $126K enough to live in Chattanooga?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,061/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,390/month, which eats 17.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a veterinarians 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 veterinarians salary is worth about $137,536 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do veterinarians 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.