TN · Chattanooga · Updated October 15, 2026

Registered Dietitian jobs in Chattanooga, TN

The median registered dietitian pay in the Chattanooga area is $28.75 per hour ($59,800 a year), with the typical range running from $17.41 to $32.23. That ranks 246th of 266 U.S. metro areas for registered dietitian pay, and 230th of 251 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Chattanooga.

Registered Dietitian pay in Chattanooga, TN

The metro median is 5% below the Tennessee statewide median of $30.11 per hour. Nationally the median is $35.50 per hour. BLS counts about 190 dietitians and nutritionists employed in the Chattanooga metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.41).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$15.66$32,57056% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$17.41$36,21051% below U.S. median
Median$28.75$59,80019% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$32.23$67,0409% below U.S. median
Top 10%$36.56$76,0403% above U.S. median

How Chattanooga ranks

  • 246th of 266 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 230th of 251 after adjusting for local prices
  • 7th of 8 Tennessee metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Dietitians and Nutritionists (SOC 29-1031), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Chattanooga

  • Overall prices in Chattanooga run 9% below the U.S. average (index 91.5, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 23% below the U.S. average (index 76.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $28.75 median hour buys what $31.43 buys at the national price level, 11% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

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Named employers near Chattanooga, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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Estimate your Chattanooga paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,035
  • Per year: $51,750
  • Per month: $4,312
  • Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Chattanooga metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Chattanooga

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$117
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,337
13-week assignment$17,381

Travel registered dietitian assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Open Registered Dietitian roles in Tennessee

Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Chattanooga as they open.

All Registered Dietitian jobs in Tennessee

Hospitals in Chattanooga

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga, 3 of the 3 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of registered dietitians.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Memorial Healthcare System, Inc
Chattanooga, TN
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5No
Erlanger Medical Center
Chattanooga, TN
Acute careGovernment and federal4 of 5Yes
Parkridge Medical Center
Chattanooga, TN
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes
Erlanger Behavioral Hospital, Llc
Chattanooga, TN
PsychiatricFor-profitNot ratedNo
Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute
Chattanooga, TN
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Registered Dietitian pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Cleveland, TN23 mi$30.11/hr50,232
Huntsville, AL85 mi$32.07/hr230,402
Murfreesboro, TN86 mi$29.96/hr168,387
Marietta, GA87 mi$35.96/hr63,122
Roswell, GA87 mi$35.96/hr92,227
Alpharetta, GA88 mi$35.96/hr67,275

Registered Dietitian jobs in Tennessee · Registered Dietitian jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Tennessee

RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Tennessee does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Tennessee state guide

Other healthcare roles in Chattanooga

Chattanooga city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do registered dietitians make in Chattanooga, TN?

Registered Dietitians in the Chattanooga metro area have a median pay of $28.75 per hour, about $59,800 a year. The middle half earn between $17.41 and $32.23 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Chattanooga a good place for registered dietitians once cost of living is counted?

Chattanooga ranks 230th of 251 metro areas for registered dietitian pay after adjusting for local prices, and 246th of 266 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.

Where do registered dietitians work in Chattanooga?

CMS lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga, led by Memorial Healthcare System, Inc. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Chattanooga as a registered dietitian?

RD credential from the CDR. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Chattanooga?

The federal per diem benchmark in Chattanooga is $117 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,337 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place registered dietitians in Chattanooga?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Chattanooga and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Chattanooga.

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What do employers near Chattanooga pay registered dietitians? Get the report.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · Dietitian near Chattanooga, TN
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your Dietitian pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your Tennessee list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Veterans Health AdministrationMurfreesboro, TN · 2 postings$54.17/ hr$43–$67
  • Select MedicalMemphis, TN · 2 postings$31.50/ hr$23–$40
  • CommonSpirit HealthSTOCKTON, CA · 8 postings$49.30/ hr$39–$64
  • Emanate HealthWest Covina, CA · 3 postings$42.76/ hr$34–$62

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your Tennessee list

2What they are offering now

Low$23Median$40.50High$64

4 Dietitian postings with published pay in Tennessee, 4 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 4 Dietitian roles

  1. Registered Dietitian / Full-TimePermanent
    $23.00–$40.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Memphis, TN · posted yesterday
  2. Registered Dietitian / Part TimePermanent
    $23.00–$40.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Memphis, TN · posted yesterday

+ 2 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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