Project Coordinator salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Chattanooga pays project coordinators more than Tennessee as a whole but less than the country. The median is $87,240 a year1: 1.6% above the Tennessee statewide median of $85,890 and 14.7% below the US median of $102,320. Nationally it ranks #326 of 518 areas. About 1,750 project coordinators work here.
BLS occupation 13-1082, area Chattanooga, TN-GA. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Chattanooga against Tennessee and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $56,450 | $87,240 | $149,430 | |
| Tennessee | $56,450 | $85,890 | $135,350 | |
| United States | $61,580 | $102,320 | $167,970 |
The middle half of project coordinators in Chattanooga earns $68,330–$121,330. The top tenth earns $149,430 or more, 2.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. The mean ($96,490) is 11% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $53,000 wide, between the figure for Tennessee ($42,130) and the US figure ($54,660).
What to budget for a project coordinator here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $56,450 | $4,704 | $27.14 | $72,839 |
| 25th percentile | $68,330 | $5,694 | $32.85 | $88,168 |
| Median | $87,240 | $7,270 | $41.94 | $112,568 |
| 75th percentile | $121,330 | $10,111 | $58.33 | $156,555 |
| 90th percentile | $149,430 | $12,452 | $71.84 | $192,813 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $34,090 over the median, the 25th only $18,910 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $43,987 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $102,320 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Chattanooga, and the Tennessee statewide median of $85,890 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Chattanooga
At the $87,240 median, a local hire costs about $112,568 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $25,328 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for project coordinators we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Chattanooga
Project coordinators have the highest median of the 17 roles we track in Chattanooga; virtual receptionists have the lowest, at $35,070.
| Role | Median | vs project coordinator | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | this role | 1,750 | |
| Accountant | -12.1% | 1,940 | |
| Marketing Specialist | -23.8% | 990 | |
| Executive Assistant | -25.9% | 440 | |
| Office Manager | -26.5% | 3,940 |
Measured against the US median, project coordinators rank #12 of the 17 roles we track in Chattanooga (-14.7%), between HR assistants (-12.0%) and executive assistants (-15.6%). The typical role here is at -11.0%, so, measured against the US, project coordinators cost less in Chattanooga than the area's general pay level would suggest. Project coordinators hold 6.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Chattanooga, 5.7% across Tennessee and 6.7% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Tennessee
Across the 14 areas of Tennessee with data for this job, the median runs from $77,580 in the West Tennessee nonmetro area to $91,690 in Knoxville, a gap of $14,110 a year. Of the 3 areas in Tennessee with more project coordinators than Chattanooga, 2 pay less: Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN ($85,990) and Memphis, TN-MS ($85,130).
| Area | Median | vs Chattanooga | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TN | +5.1% | 3,650 | |
| East Tennessee (Nonmetro) | +1.9% | 330 | |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | +0.1% | 550 | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | this area | 1,750 | |
| Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN | -1.4% | 7,950 | |
| Memphis, TN-MS | -2.4% | 2,960 | |
| Morristown, TN | -5.2% | 180 |
Chattanooga against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Chattanooga is #82 of 517 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job, with pay near the middle of the US range. Outside Tennessee, Florence and Altoona pay just above Chattanooga and Minot and Coeur d'Alene just below. All four are within $420 a year of the median in Chattanooga. Of the three markets with about as many project coordinators, two pay more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Chattanooga | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | +15.8% | 1,720 | jobs | |
| Reno, NV | +14.1% | 1,750 | jobs | |
| Altoona, PA | +0.5% | 270 | pay | |
| Florence, SC | +0.2% | 370 | pay | |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | this area | 1,750 | ||
| Minot, ND | -0.3% | 90 | pay | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | -0.3% | 460 | pay | |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock, AR | -15.8% | 1,730 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a project coordinator in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About $112,568 a year at the median, or $9,381 a month: $87,240 in pay plus about $25,328 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do project coordinators earn in Chattanooga?
The median was $87,240 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $56,450, the 90th $149,430, and the middle half earned $68,330 to $121,330.
Is Chattanooga cheaper than the rest of Tennessee for project coordinators?
No, it costs more: a median of $87,240 against $85,890 statewide. The next area up in Tennessee is Kingsport-Bristol at $87,290, the next down Nashville-Murfreesboro at $85,990.
How many project coordinators work in Chattanooga?
BLS counts about 1,750 in the May 2025 survey. 3 areas in Tennessee have more; the closest in size is Memphis, with about 2,960.
Does a project coordinator cost more than an accountant in Chattanooga?
Yes: $10,560 a year more at the median. The medians are $87,240 and $76,680.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1082: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.