PermanentPosted today
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Veterans Health Administration · Johnson City, TN
$50k–$97k/ year
New this week
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Chattanooga, TN
The median medical laboratory scientist pay in the Chattanooga area is $23.12 per hour ($48,100 a year), with the typical range running from $18.70 to $35.63. That ranks 292nd of 355 U.S. metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay, and 268th of 317 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 5 hospitals in Chattanooga. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Chattanooga.
- $23.12median pay per hour, Chattanooga
- $19–$36typical range per hour
- 700employed in the metro area
- 91cost of living index (U.S. = 100)
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in Chattanooga, TN
The metro median is 17% below the Tennessee statewide median of $27.77 per hour. Nationally the median is $29.75 per hour. BLS counts about 700 clinical laboratory technologists and technicians employed in the Chattanooga metro area, 2.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is more concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.17).
| Level | Per hour | Per year | Compared with U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% | $17.36 | $36,110 | 42% below U.S. median |
| Lower quartile | $18.70 | $38,900 | 37% below U.S. median |
| Median | $23.12 | $48,100 | 22% below U.S. median |
| Upper quartile | $35.63 | $74,110 | 20% above U.S. median |
| Top 10% | $39.11 | $81,350 | 31% above U.S. median |
How Chattanooga ranks
- 292nd of 355 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
- 268th of 317 after adjusting for local prices
- 10th of 10 Tennessee metro areas
BLS does not publish a separate figure for medical laboratory scientist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians (SOC 29-2010), 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 $23.12 median hour buys what $25.28 buys at the national price level, 15% 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.
Get the Chattanooga Medical Laboratory Scientist pay report
Named employers near Chattanooga, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.
Get my free pay reportEstimate your Chattanooga paycheck
Estimated weekly gross$832
- Per year: $41,616
- Per month: $3,468
- 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
| Item | Federal 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 medical laboratory scientist 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 Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in Tennessee
Nearest open roles with published pay. Your free report adds roles in Chattanooga as they open.
PermanentPosted today
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Veterans Health Administration · Knoxville, TN
$50k–$97k/ year
New this week
For youUpdated weekly
70+ more Medical Laboratory Scientist roles for you in Tennessee
Most are never shown on this page. Tell us your role and get the full list, with the pay on every one, in your inbox within 24 hours.
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PermanentPosted 16 days ago
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Military Treatment Facilities under DHA · Fort Campbell, TN
$62k–$80k/ year
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 medical laboratory scientists.
| Hospital | Type | Ownership | CMS rating | Emergency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Memorial Healthcare System, Inc Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | Nonprofit | 5 of 5 | No |
| Erlanger Medical Center Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | Government and federal | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Parkridge Medical Center Chattanooga, TN | Acute care | For-profit | 4 of 5 | Yes |
| Erlanger Behavioral Hospital, Llc Chattanooga, TN | Psychiatric | For-profit | Not rated | No |
| Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute Chattanooga, TN | Psychiatric | Government and federal | Not rated | No |
Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.
Medical Laboratory Scientist pay in nearby cities
| City | Distance | Median pay | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, TN | 23 mi | $25.08/hr | 50,232 |
| Huntsville, AL | 85 mi | $22.48/hr | 230,402 |
| Murfreesboro, TN | 86 mi | $30.13/hr | 168,387 |
| Marietta, GA | 87 mi | $31.75/hr | 63,122 |
| Roswell, GA | 87 mi | $31.75/hr | 92,227 |
| Alpharetta, GA | 88 mi | $31.75/hr | 67,275 |
Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs in Tennessee · Medical Laboratory Scientist jobs nationwide
License and tax basics in Tennessee
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. 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.
Other healthcare roles in Chattanooga
Chattanooga city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing
Common questions
How much do medical laboratory scientists make in Chattanooga, TN?
Medical Laboratory Scientists in the Chattanooga metro area have a median pay of $23.12 per hour, about $48,100 a year. The middle half earn between $18.70 and $35.63 per hour (BLS, May 2024).
Is Chattanooga a good place for medical laboratory scientists once cost of living is counted?
Chattanooga ranks 268th of 317 metro areas for medical laboratory scientist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 292nd of 355 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% below the U.S. average.
Where do medical laboratory scientists 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 medical laboratory scientist?
Bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory science or a related science. 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 medical laboratory scientists 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 medical laboratory scientists? Get the report.
Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.
- 1Pay for your role at other employers
The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.
- 2What they are offering now
The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.
- 3Roles open for you right now
Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.
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70+ Medical Laboratory Scientist roles in Tennessee, sent free by email
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Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]
Your Lab Scientist pay reportChattanooga, TN · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings
1Pay for your role at other employers
- Veterans Health AdministrationKnoxville, TN · 2 postings$35.47/ hr$24–$47
- Methodist Le Bonheur HealthcareMemphis, TN · 6 wage offers$29.23/ hr$25–$39
- Guardian Healthcare Providers, Inc.Cleveland, TN · 2 wage offers$28.89/ hr$27–$31
Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings.
2What they are offering now
Low$24Median$35.47High$47
3 Lab Scientist postings with published pay in Tennessee, 3 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.
3Open now: 3 Lab Scientist roles
- Clinical Laboratory ScientistPermanent$50k–$97k/ year
- Clinical Laboratory ScientistPermanent$50k–$97k/ year
+ 1 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.
I'm interestedOne click. A recruiter writes only after you reply.