Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Chattanooga, TN
Based on 52 certified H-1B filings in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Ooltewah.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,000 |
| 25th | $60,000 |
| 50th (median) | $71,760 |
| 75th | $97,500 |
| 90th | $144,270 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $81,000 | $63,991 | $95,400 | 39 |
| FY2021 | $94,150 | $64,500 | $107,084 | 26 |
| FY2022 | $88,712 | $66,800 | $130,000 | 29 |
| FY2023 | $66,800 | $60,000 | $92,100 | 25 |
| FY2024 | $86,653 | $64,890 | $117,009 | 27 |
| FY2025 | $71,760 | $60,000 | $86,463 | 36 |
| FY2026 | $97,500 | $68,682 | $121,756 | 16 |
Cost of living
Chattanooga's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $71,760 is worth about $78,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Chattanooga = 91.5).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Chattanooga, TN area earned a median of $65,230 in May 2025 (860 employed). The H-1B median here is $71,760, 10% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $60,000 | 17 |
| HCLTech | too few | 6 |
| Tata Consultancy Services | too few | 6 |
| Volkswagen Group of America | too few | 5 |
| UNUM Group | too few | 3 |
| BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee | too few | 2 |
| Ellucian Company | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $60,000 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | $71,760 | 16 |
| Expert · Level IV | $112,341 | 15 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-level · Level II | $56,888 | $60,000 | 21 |
| Senior · Level III | $71,760 | $71,760 | 16 |
| Expert · Level IV | $81,370 | $112,341 | 15 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.