Health Sciences Degree Programs in Chattanooga, TN (2026)

Quick answer: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other in the Chattanooga area earn a median $60,580 per year, below the national median of $65,790, and the metro employs about 280 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Health Sciences Pay in Chattanooga, TN

MetricChattanooga metroTennesseeNational
Median annual wage$60,580$63,400$65,790
10th percentile$41,090$35,120$38,660
25th percentile$50,760$45,800$47,750
75th percentile$81,460$83,820$97,000
90th percentile$82,230$108,720$129,830
Employment2801,65035,010
Location quotient4.63-1.00

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Chattanooga, TN-GA metropolitan statistical area.

What the Numbers Say About This Market

The Chattanooga median of $60,580 is below the national median of $65,790, and below the Tennessee statewide median of $63,400 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

The metro’s location quotient of 4.63 means healthcare practitioners and technical workers are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.

Allied health employment follows hospital systems and outpatient networks, so the local market tracks where the large health systems are rather than general population

Other Tennessee Metro Areas

Metro areaMedian annual wageEmployment
Nashville$66,940510
Knoxville$51,550280
Memphis$58,270150

Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.

Licensing

Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Health sciences is a completion degree rather than a licensing credential, and it does not authorize clinical practice on its own. The licence you hold already - imaging, respiratory, laboratory or rehabilitation - is what governs your scope. This degree adds the four-year qualification on top of it.

See the Tennessee licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state licensing board for your existing clinical credential.

Schools Near You

Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.

How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention. Advertising plays no part.

This page lists 2 schools within 33 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 2 of them carry a score.

Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%

Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.

#1

Lee University

Cleveland, TN 22.4 miles away BOC Score 48.8
Tuition Contact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Completion rate: 61.6% (College Scorecard)
  • Programs offered: 10
  • Annual completions: 52
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $47,559 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

#2

Bryan College-Dayton

Dayton, TN 33.0 miles away BOC Score 48.3
Tuition $19,800 - $31,270
Contact
Key stats
  • Graduation rate: 52.7%
  • Programs offered: 3
  • Annual completions: 16
  • Median graduate earnings, 4 yrs after completing (all majors, not a single program): $51,604 (College Scorecard)
  • Online programs available

Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do healthcare practitioners and technical workers make in Chattanooga?

The median annual wage for healthcare practitioners and technical workers in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $60,580, below the national median of $65,790 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

How many healthcare practitioners and technical workers work in the Chattanooga area?

The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area employs about 280 healthcare practitioners and technical workers (BLS OEWS, May 2025).

Do healthcare practitioners and technical workers in Chattanooga need a license?

Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Health sciences is a completion degree rather than a licensing credential, and it does not authorize clinical practice on its own. The licence you hold already - imaging, respiratory, laboratory or rehabilitation - is what governs your scope. This degree adds the four-year qualification on top of it. Confirm current requirements with your state licensing board for your existing clinical credential.

Can I study health sciences online from Chattanooga?

The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state licensing board for your existing clinical credential.

Is Chattanooga a better market than the rest of Tennessee?

The Chattanooga metro median is $60,580 against a statewide median of $63,400 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other (SOC 29-9099), national, state and metropolitan estimates
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements

Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.


About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.