Salary data · Tennessee
Physical therapist assistant salary in Tennessee
Physical therapist assistants in Tennessee earn a mean of $64,060 a year and a median of $62,500, 6.8% below the national mean of $68,730. That ranks 36th of the 51 states with a published estimate.
$64,060
Mean annual wage
about $31 an hour
$62,500
Median annual wage
36th of 51
State rank
by mean wage
3,390
PTAs employed
BLS estimate
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates. These are estimates for physical therapist assistants already employed in Tennessee, not offers; the hourly figure divides the annual mean by 2,080 hours. Setting, specialty and caseload move an individual offer well above or below them. Updated October 22, 2026.
By metro
Physical therapist assistant pay by metro in Tennessee
| Metro | Mean | Median | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | $67,080 | $65,650 | 830 |
| Memphis | $64,000 | $61,560 | 490 |
| Chattanooga | $63,850 | $62,360 | 340 |
| Johnson City | $63,480 | $64,270 | 100 |
| Knoxville | $61,670 | $60,280 | 440 |
Source: BLS OEWS metropolitan estimates. Suppressed cells show n/a.
The market
How many physical therapist assistants work in Tennessee
Source: NPPES monthly file, October 2026 (CMS, public domain), as of October 2026.
Licensed in another state?
Tennessee is a PT Compact member and is issuing compact privileges: physical therapists and physical therapist assistants licensed in another member state can obtain a privilege to practice in Tennessee without applying for a new state license.
How the PT Compact works →Open roles
PTA openings in Tennessee
Other roles in Tennessee
Thinking about a PTA move in Tennessee?
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