Chattanooga, Tennessee Income Statistics
Chattanooga Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
-
C
Chattanooga Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chattanooga | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,773 | $69,901 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,286 | $53,263 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.7% | 10.4% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.4% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chattanooga is about 6% lower than in Tennessee. Income has been growing faster in Chattanooga (5.9%/yr) than in Tennessee (5.2%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Chattanooga earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Tennessee average of 10%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Chattanooga, Tennessee grew by 71.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,773 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chattanooga
| Metric | Chattanooga | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.538 | 0.542 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $60,280 | $61,993 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,891 | $50,108 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 15.6% | 19.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Chattanooga, it is 0.538, about the same as Tennessee's 0.542, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 18% more than women's income in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Over a 35-year career, a 18% wage gap accumulates to roughly $328,615 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chattanooga, Tennessee has narrowed from about 20% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2012, and was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,192 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chattanooga | Tennessee Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.3% | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.5% | 12.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 22 | 22 |
Approximately 5,240 people are unemployed in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The average commute time in Chattanooga is 17 minutes, shorter than the 22 minutes in Tennessee.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chattanooga, Tennessee has fallen from 11.9% to 5.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 4.9% in 2023.
Chattanooga, TN Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Chattanooga, TN compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN | 187,055 | $65,773 #1/2 | 5.9%/yr #2/2 | 5.3% #2/2 | 0.538 #2/2 |
| East Ridge, TN | 21,177 | $62,733 | 5.9%/yr | 5.2% | 0.494 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chattanooga, Tennessee has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Tennessee, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
How Rich Is Chattanooga, Tennessee?
Chattanooga has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $65,773, about 6% lower than the Tennessee average of $69,901.
Are incomes growing in Chattanooga, Tennessee?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chattanooga, Tennessee rose 72%, from $38,299 to $65,773. Over the same years, income here outpaced Tennessee as a whole: +72% against +63%.
What was the median household income in Chattanooga in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chattanooga, Tennessee was $62,497, up 8% from $57,999 in 2022. The Tennessee median that year was $67,483.
What was the median household income in Chattanooga in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chattanooga, Tennessee was $48,137. By 2024 it had risen 37% to $65,773.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chattanooga, Tennessee?
The Gini coefficient in Chattanooga is 0.538. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chattanooga, Tennessee?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chattanooga, Tennessee has narrowed from about 20% to 16% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 21% in 2012, and was narrowest at 14% in 2017. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,192 since 2009.
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