High paying jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Chattanooga, TN-GA, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Chattanooga, TN-GA run 8.5% below the national average (2024), so a Chattanooga, TN-GA salary is worth about 1.09× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA

OccupationMedian, Chattanooga, TN-GA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$83,460
Associate's degree
$62,780 – $97,510460
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$78,670
Associate's degree
$63,620 – $99,350190
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,000 – $98,800550
4Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$77,700
Associate's degree
$39,200 – $99,470110
5Surgical Assistants$77,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,500 – $109,580110
6Respiratory Therapists$74,350
Associate's degree
$63,480 – $81,230370
7Electricians$72,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,030 – $85,8301,760
8Brickmasons and Blockmasons$69,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,790 – $69,660150
9Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$66,480
Associate's degree
$36,710 – $98,550170
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$64,010
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,380 – $81,350140
11Postal Service Clerks$63,650
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $76,360110
12Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,500
Associate's degree
$46,530 – $83,580180
13Millwrights$62,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,990 – $73,780160
14Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,420 – $73,810110
15Physical Therapist Assistants$62,360
Associate's degree
$48,960 – $79,040340
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$62,090
Associate's degree
$50,080 – $84,020350
17Structural Iron and Steel Workers$61,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,870 – $71,920150
18Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$61,760
Associate's degree
$42,590 – $107,000140
19Tool and Die Makers$61,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,210 – $84,860260
20Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,270 – $79,300220
21Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$61,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $100,940570
22Occupational Therapy Assistants$61,360
Associate's degree
$23,710 – $75,910210
23Surgical Technologists$60,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,600 – $77,610380
24Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$60,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,670 – $130,0001,750
25Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$60,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,090 – $82,230280
26Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,150 – $82,4101,480
27Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,290
Associate's degree
$38,840 – $81,470530
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,980 – $92,200130
29Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$58,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,070 – $75,340230
30Architectural and Civil Drafters$58,780
Associate's degree
$47,680 – $86,040190
31Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$58,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,670 – $78,880860
32Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$58,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,810 – $65,5201,560
33Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,390
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,280200
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,000 – $83,200480
35Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,440 – $74,7304,370
36Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$57,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,160 – $70,570160
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,840
Associate's degree
$38,300 – $80,500230
38Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$56,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,930 – $106,7601,630
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,930
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040630
40Computer User Support Specialists$55,430
Some college, no degree
$39,900 – $88,620930
41Insurance Sales Agents$54,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,510 – $121,190790
42Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$52,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,580 – $76,0101,090
43Sales and Related Workers, All Other$52,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,210 – $87,360140
44Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$51,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,430 – $67,970190
45Chemical Technicians$51,630
Associate's degree
$42,660 – $99,010100
46Machinists$51,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,230 – $69,870730
47Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$51,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,720 – $78,000730
48Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$51,020
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,640 – $79,3001,320
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$50,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,160 – $77,020850
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$50,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $74,340140

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianChattanooga, TN-GA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$83,460	$62,780 – $97,510	460
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$78,670	$63,620 – $99,350	190
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,240	$59,000 – $98,800	550
4	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,700	$39,200 – $99,470	110
5	Surgical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,570	$61,500 – $109,580	110
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$74,350	$63,480 – $81,230	370
7	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,330	$38,030 – $85,830	1,760
8	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,660	$50,790 – $69,660	150
9	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$66,480	$36,710 – $98,550	170
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,010	$36,380 – $81,350	140
11	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$63,650	$54,330 – $76,360	110
12	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,500	$46,530 – $83,580	180
13	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,850	$45,990 – $73,780	160
14	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,690	$36,420 – $73,810	110
15	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,360	$48,960 – $79,040	340
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,090	$50,080 – $84,020	350
17	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,880	$43,870 – $71,920	150
18	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$61,760	$42,590 – $107,000	140
19	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,720	$47,210 – $84,860	260
20	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,680	$47,270 – $79,300	220
21	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,590	$48,690 – $100,940	570
22	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,360	$23,710 – $75,910	210
23	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,900	$47,600 – $77,610	380
24	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,600	$34,670 – $130,000	1,750
25	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,580	$41,090 – $82,230	280
26	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,180	$47,150 – $82,410	1,480
27	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,290	$38,840 – $81,470	530
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,910	$45,980 – $92,200	130
29	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,870	$46,070 – $75,340	230
30	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$58,780	$47,680 – $86,040	190
31	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,720	$37,670 – $78,880	860
32	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,580	$42,810 – $65,520	1,560
33	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,390	$42,600 – $75,280	200
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,450	$39,000 – $83,200	480
35	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,440	$39,440 – $74,730	4,370
36	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,400	$39,160 – $70,570	160
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,840	$38,300 – $80,500	230
38	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,120	$32,930 – $106,760	1,630
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,930	$42,390 – $81,040	630
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$55,430	$39,900 – $88,620	930
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,940	$37,510 – $121,190	790
42	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,740	$37,580 – $76,010	1,090
43	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,500	$30,210 – $87,360	140
44	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,870	$38,430 – $67,970	190
45	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$51,630	$42,660 – $99,010	100
46	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,540	$37,230 – $69,870	730
47	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,330	$44,720 – $78,000	730
48	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,020	$31,640 – $79,300	1,320
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,950	$37,160 – $77,020	850
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,770	$38,600 – $74,340	140

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Chattanooga, TN-GA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

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The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Chattanooga, TN-GA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA that need no experience

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