SOC 31-2021 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Therapist Assistants — Tennessee
Tennessee · 10 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $62,500 a year, trailing the national median of $68,380 by 8.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Tennessee is $62,500 a year, trailing the national median of $68,380 by 8.6%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $55,890 and $76,090. The lowest tenth earn under $48,010, while the highest tenth earn more than $80,800.
The area has 3,390 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.43 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Tennessee ranks number 39th out of 51 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Nashville records the highest median at $65,650. Of the 730 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 270th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $48,010 | −29.8% |
| 25th | $55,890 | −18.3% |
| Median (50th) | $62,500 | −8.6% |
| 75th | $76,090 | +11.3% |
| 90th | $80,800 | +18.2% |
| Mean | $64,060 | −6.3% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Tennessee
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nashville | $65,650 | 830 | |
| 2 | Cleveland | $64,290 | 40 | |
| 3 | Johnson City | $64,270 | 100 | |
| 4 | Morristown | $63,940 | 70 | |
| 5 | Kingsport | $62,620 | 160 | |
| 6 | Chattanooga | $62,360 | 340 | |
| 7 | Memphis | $61,560 | 490 | |
| 8 | Jackson | $60,980 | 120 | |
| 9 | Knoxville | $60,280 | 440 | |
| 10 | Clarksville | $59,160 | 100 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tennessee run 8.1% below the national average, so the median of $62,500 goes as far as $68,009 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 0.5% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$62,500as reported by BLSLocal price level
91.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$68,009US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $62,500 a year, 8.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $48,010 to $80,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,390 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 39th of 51 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Nashville, at $65,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee?
The median annual wage is $62,500, or $30.05 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $68,380, so pay in Tennessee is 8.6% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Tennessee earns more than $80,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $48,010 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Nashville, at $65,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,390 jobs in this occupation in Tennessee. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
Explore related data