GME Salaries and Benefits
UT Resident/Fellow Salary Scale 2025-2026*
Chattanooga Campus
PGY Training Level | Annual Salary Effective July 1, 2025* |
PGY-1 | $ 59,692 |
PGY-2 | $ 61,559 |
PGY-3 | $ 63,817 |
PGY-4 | $ 66,548 |
PGY-5 | $ 69,240 |
PGY-6 | $ 71,723 |
PGY-7 | $ 74,465 |
*Includes annual salary and standard GME Disability and Life Insurance contributions.
Benefits
Vacation | Up to 3 weeks per year (Residents not guranteed holiday leave unless assigned service/area is closed for holiday). |
Sick/Family/Parental Leave | Up to 3 weeks of paid sick leave per year and parental leave (paid and unpaid) in accordance to UT GME policies. An additional 6 weeks of paid medical, caregiver or family leave once in residency or fellowship (Must be taken in same academic year). |
Insurance |
GME Insurance - Begins 1st day of residency or fellowship training Health, Prescription, Vision and Dental - (United Health Care Choice Plus managed by Holland Insurance Agency) Life - $100,000 benefit (Hartford) Long-Term Disability - Choose monthly benefit of $1500, $2500, $4000, or $5000 (Unum Insurance managed by the Hildreth Agency) Disability and Life Insurance Premiums - Each trainee is provided $660 annually as part of their GME Salary to help cover the cost of life and disability premiums. The premiums are taxed as part of your income, meaning that if you need to utilize your disability benefits, your disability income would not be taxable. Liability - Tennessee Claims Commission Act provides that employees of the state of Tennessee are invidually immune from liability for acts or omissions within the course and scope of their employment.
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Wellness |
Onsite GME Advocate/Counselor - Our dedicated full time counselor, Lucy White LPC-MHSP, is available for individualized counseling and didactics for programs. Counseling services are available onsite and provided at no charge to our medical students, UT PA students, residents, fellows, faculty, and UT administrative staff (valued at $100 per session based on the cost of private counseling). Flexible hours are built into her schedule. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) -Discounted membership to the UTC ARC is available ($20 per month plus a one-time $20 fee).Spouse memberships are also available at a discounted rate. LifeBridge Physician Well-Being Initiative - The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society provides access for all physicians practicing in the our area, as well as all our faculty, residents, fellows, and medical students/UT PA students for mental health services for up to six sessions at no charge (valued at $600 per year for each participant). Erlanger Exercise Room - Located within the Erlanger Mall (2nd floor above First Horizon Bank), residents, fellows, medical/PA students, and faculty can use the exercise facility at no charge. Free weights, treadmills, StairMasters, and rowing machines are available |
Reimbursement | Professional Development Expenses - Each program has annual funding that may be used at the discretion of the Chair and Program Director for reimbursement of professional development activities (e.g., regional or national conference, textbooks, electronic CME materials, USMLE Step 3/COMLEX 3 fees, etc.). Actual amounts vary by program and level of training. UT Reimbursement and Travel Policies must be followed and all travel must be approved in advance by the Department and Deans' Offices. Travel receipts and reimbursements must be handled through the CONCUR System. |
Conference Leave |
Educational - Programs permit up to 1 week of paid leave per academic year. National Meeting Presentations - Presenting residents and fellows are provided a limited funding for partial reinbursement for conference and travel expenses. Must be approved by trainee's Chair and Program Director. |
Simulation Lab |
Available to all resident trainees with emphasis on surgical and procedural practice. |
GME CIGNA Resident/Fellow Employee Assistance Program |
3 sessions per issue (no charge) offered, through the GME CIGNA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Includes counseling, legal advisement, and financial counseling. Designed to assist residents/fellows with balancing academic and personal life. Seminars are also available from the EAP to all Residents and Fellows. |
White Monogrammed Lab coats/Jackets | Provided at no charge to our trainees (valued up to $150 per year). |
GME Orientation and Electronic Communication Stipend | A total of $950 is paid to each resident and fellow as part of the first monthly paycheck for incoming residents and fellows new to our campus who complete all onboarding documentation and attend all required institutional and program orientation and certification training (i.e., the last half of June for most incoming Residents and Fellows). This stipend includes $600 for GME GME Orientation and $350 for GME Electronic Communication. |
Funding for call meals at Erlanger and evening and weekend snacks/drinks provided in call and work areas | Swipe cards are pre-loaded with amounts that vary between programs depending on call frequency ($1,200 annually for non-surgical programs and $1,560 annually for surgical programs). These funds are not added to your payroll benefits so they are not subject to federal income tax (an estimated tax savings of 25 - 30%, $240-$300 for non-surgical residents/fellows or $312-$390 for surgical Residents/Fellows, depending on your tax filing status). |
Call Quarters | Provided within the hospital for residents and fellows with snacks/drinks during evening hours. |
Initial certification and recertification courses |
BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, ALSO, and ATLS are provided for incoming Residents and Fellows in accordance with hospital policy and based on individual program requirements. The certification is provided at no charge to residents and fellows. |
Covered parking in the hospital parking garage | Provided at no cost to our trainees (valued at $720 per year). |
Discounted software downloads through the University for personal computers and devices | Includes Microsoft Office, Office 365 Web Apps, Office 365 ProPlus, and SPSS (value depends on which software is used). |
Immunizations | Includes Hepatitis B immunization and other required immunizations, annual TB skin testing, annual Flu vaccines, and COVID vaccines at no charge. |
Medical Library | Includes those in Memphis and our own UT Medical Library in Chattanooga (with 24/7 access). |
24-hour Access |
Computer Access - These resources can be used for research and/or personal use in work areas, lounges, as well as the Medical Library. Clinical and Educational Resources - These resources may be within Erlanger and access from anywhere outside the hospital via Physician VPN access, including electronic resources (e.g., Up-to-Date, and Visual DX). |
Access to all electronic databases |
Including those available via the UT Health Science Center Library (in Memphis) (use your UT Net ID login at no charge to our trainees). |
Resident/fellow quarterly town hall and GMEC resident/fellow representatives |
Resident and fellow representatives from each department are peer-selected and represent our residents and fellows at our monthly Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) meetings. In addition, house staff association leaders (selected by voting among the entire group of residents and fellows) are also part of our GMEC meetings. The DIO offers quarterly resident/fellow town hall sessions throughout the academic year to discuss issues and problems submitted by the entire "house staff" and then openly discussed with UT Deans and GME leadership as well as Erlanger administration. |
Well-Being Initiatives and Activities |
Structured activities are provided at both the institutional and program levels. |
Erlanger e-Kids (On-Site Child Care) |
Erlanger e-Kids is an onsite, licensed child care facility located adjacent to the hospital. It offers a discounted rate equivalent to the rate for Erlanger employees given space availability. E-Kids also offers extended child care hours beyond those offered by private day care facilities. |
Notary services |
Notary services (at no charge to our students, residents, fellows, and faculty) are available in most departments and the Dean's Office. |
GME Physician Health Support Policy #320 |
Offers intervention and assistance to residents and fellows who admit impairment and comply with recommended treatment. Given compliance with treatment guidelines, every effort is made to allow a resident or fellow to continue and complete residency training and benefits. |
Workers Compensation | The University provides Workers Compensation for payment of work-related illness, accident, or exposure. |
Mail Boxes for all residents and fellows | Erlanger provides a full service US Post Office on the 1st floor of the hospital with mail boxes. Also, mail boxes are provided within several departments (e.g., Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine). These services are provided at no charge to trainees. |