Technology Chattanooga, TN Pop. 181,099

Data Engineer Salary in Chattanooga, Tennessee

The median data engineer salary in Chattanooga, TN is $110,000 per year, which is 12% below the national median and 1.1% below the Tennessee state average.

City Median
$110,000
vs State Avg
$-1,250
vs National
$-15,000
Cost of Living
88%

Data Engineer Pay in Chattanooga: What to Expect (2026)

Chattanooga offers a median data engineer salary of $110,000, which is $1,250 below the Tennessee state average of $111,250. Compared to the national median of $125,000, Chattanooga pays below the national benchmark for this role.

One of Chattanooga's biggest advantages is its low cost of living at 88% of the national average. This means the $110,000 salary stretches further here — equivalent to roughly $125,000 in an average-cost city. This makes Chattanooga an attractive option for data engineers seeking strong real-dollar compensation.

The salary range for data engineers in Chattanooga spans from $68,640 at the 10th percentile to $167,200 at the 90th percentile — a $98,560 spread. Entry-level professionals start around $70,400, while senior data engineers with 8+ years of experience can earn up to $158,400. With a population of 181,099, Chattanooga is a mid-sized metro with a growing job market.

Data Engineer Salary in Chattanooga by Experience

In Chattanooga, an entry-level data engineer earns around $70,400, while experienced professionals earn up to $158,400 per year. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.

Entry Level (0-2 yrs)
$70,400
$-9,600 vs national
Mid Level (3-7 yrs)
$111,760
$-15,240 vs national
Senior Level (8+ yrs)
$158,400
$-21,600 vs national

Salary Percentiles in Chattanooga, TN

Percentile Chattanooga
10th Percentile $68,640
25th Percentile $88,000
Median (50th) $110,000
75th Percentile $139,040
90th Percentile $167,200

Data Engineer Salary in Other Tennessee Cities

How to Become a Data Engineer in Chattanooga

Education

Most data engineer positions require a bachelor's degree. Chattanooga and the surrounding Tennessee area have institutions offering relevant programs.

Key Skills

PythonSQLSparkAirflowAWS/GCPData Modeling

Job Outlook

Nationally, data engineer employment is projected to grow 28% over the next decade (much faster than average). Demand in Chattanooga may vary based on local industry and population growth.

Find Data Engineer Jobs in Chattanooga

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Frequently Asked Questions: Data Engineer Salary in Chattanooga

How much does a Data Engineer make in Chattanooga, TN? ▼
The median data engineer salary in Chattanooga, Tennessee is $110,000 per year, which is 12% below the national median of $125,000. Salaries range from $68,640 (10th percentile) to $167,200 (90th percentile).
How much does a Data Engineer make per hour in Chattanooga? ▼
Based on the median annual salary of $110,000, a data engineer in Chattanooga earns approximately $53 per hour assuming a standard 2,080-hour work year.
How does Chattanooga compare to the Tennessee state average for data engineer pay? ▼
Chattanooga's median data engineer salary of $110,000 is 1.1% below the Tennessee state average of $111,250. The local cost of living index is 88% of the national average.
What is the cost of living in Chattanooga, TN? ▼
Chattanooga has a cost of living index of 88% compared to the national average. This means a data engineer salary of $110,000 in Chattanooga has more purchasing power than the same salary in an average-cost city.
What qualifications do I need to become a data engineer in Chattanooga? ▼
Most data engineer positions in Chattanooga require a bachelor's degree. Key skills include Python, SQL, Spark, Airflow. The job market is projected to grow 28% nationally over the next decade.