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Physical therapist assistant salary in Tennessee

Updated October 31, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Published by Humblebee.

$62,500median pay per year in Tennessee, or $30.05 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $48,010lowest 10% earn less
  2. $55,89025th percentile
  3. $62,500median
  4. $76,09075th percentile
  5. $80,800top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[2]US median for this job, $68,380[3]

The median pay for physical therapist assistants in Tennessee was $62,500 a year in May 2025[1]. That was 8.6% lower than the US median[6].

Jobs in TN
3,390[4]
Rank by median pay
39 of 51[5]
Compared with US median
−8.6%[6]

How much do physical therapist assistants make in Tennessee?

Half of the physical therapist assistants in Tennessee earned more than $62,500 a year, and half earned less[1]. That works out to $30.05 an hour[1]. The average was a little higher, at $64,060 a year[7]. Across the US, the median was $68,380[3]. Tennessee's median was $5,880 (8.6%) lower[6]. Compared with all jobs in Tennessee, the median was $15,120 higher than the $47,380 median for all occupations[8].

The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $48,010 a year[2]. The highest-paid 10% earned more than $80,800[2]. The middle half of workers fell between $55,890 and $76,090[2]. Tennessee ranked 39th out of the 50 states and DC for median annual wage in this job[5].

Among Tennessee metro areas, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin had the highest median, at $65,650 a year[9]. It also had 830 jobs[10]. Johnson City had a median of $64,270 a year and 100 jobs[10]. OEWS counts wage and salary workers, part time and full time. It leaves out the self-employed and business owners. Its wages also leave out bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11].

Tennessee vs US pay

Pay for physical therapist assistants in Tennessee next to the national figures[1][3].

TNUS
Median per year$62,500[1]$68,380[3]
Median per hour$30.05[1]$32.88[3]
Lowest 10% earn less than$48,010[2]$47,750[12]
Top 10% earn more than$80,800[2]$89,510[12]
Jobs3,390[4]112,430[3]

Pay by metro area in Tennessee

Metro areas in Tennessee with the most jobs for physical therapist assistants, and the median pay in each[10]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.

Metro areaMedian per yearJobs
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN[10]$65,650830
Memphis, TN-MS-AR$61,560490
Knoxville, TN$60,280440
Chattanooga, TN-GA$62,360340
Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA$62,620160
Jackson, TN$60,980120
Clarksville, TN-KY$59,160100
Johnson City, TN$64,270100

Pay in nearby states

Median pay for physical therapist assistants in the states that border Tennessee, highest first[13].

StateMedian per yearJobs
Virginia[13]$73,7603,370
Georgia$72,8002,620
North Carolina$67,5403,280
Arkansas$64,5201,620
Missouri$63,7702,490
Mississippi$61,7701,150
Kentucky$61,4802,580
Alabama$61,4302,700

Median pay for physical therapist assistants in every state

Job outlook and training

Across the US, jobs for physical therapist assistants are projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035[14]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[15].

How to become one: steps, training and duties

Frequently asked questions

How much does a physical therapist assistant make in Tennessee?
The median was $62,500 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $64,060 a year[7].
How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour in Tennessee?
The median was $30.05 an hour[1]. Hourly pay at the 10th percentile was $23.08 and at the 90th percentile was $38.85[16].
Which city in Tennessee pays physical therapist assistants the most?
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin had the highest median among Tennessee metro areas, at $65,650 a year[9].
Is Tennessee a good state for physical therapist assistants?
Tennessee ranked 39th of the 50 states and DC for median annual wage in this job[5]. Its median was $5,880 (8.6%) lower than the US median[6].
What do you need to become a physical therapist assistant in Tennessee?
Across the US, the typical education needed for entry is an associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training usually needed[15]. This is a US figure, not a Tennessee one.

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee was $62,500 per year and $30.05 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee: 10th percentile $48,010, 25th percentile $55,890, 75th percentile $76,090, 90th percentile $80,800. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US as a whole was $68,380 per year and $32.88 per hour, with about 112,430 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,390 people worked as Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: Tennessee had the 39th highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee ($62,500) was $5,880 (8.6%) lower than the US median ($68,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee was $64,060 per year and $30.80 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee was $15,120 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 10 metro areas in or partly in Tennessee with a published median for Physical Therapist Assistants, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN had the highest median annual wage, $65,650. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $47,750, 25th percentile $59,820, 75th percentile $78,680, 90th percentile $89,510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in states that border Tennessee (highest first): Virginia $73,760; Georgia $72,800; North Carolina $67,540; Arkansas $64,520; Missouri $63,770; Mississippi $61,770; Kentucky $61,480; Alabama $61,430. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow 23% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
  15. BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Physical Therapist Assistants: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee: 10th percentile $23.08, 25th percentile $26.87, 75th percentile $36.58, 90th percentile $38.85. BLS OEWS, May 2025

State figures cover only Tennessee. Job outlook and entry requirements are national (US) figures: BLS does not publish them by state in our sources. Figures labelled “CareerFacts calculation” are simple differences between the BLS numbers shown.