Therapy recruiting · Chattanooga, TN
Chattanooga physical therapy, OT and SLP recruiters
APT Recruiting fills PT, OT, SLP and audiology roles for hospitals, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient clinics and schools across the Chattanooga, TN-GA area. Below is the current federal picture of the local therapy workforce, the same numbers we use when we take a search here.
Therapy workforce
Who practices in the Chattanooga metro today
466
Physical therapists
+ 93 PTAs
135
Occupational therapists
+ 42 OTAs
239
Speech-language pathologists
29
Audiologists
Over the last 12 months the registry added 18 physical therapists, 8 occupational therapists, 9 speech-language pathologists and 0 audiologists with a practice address in the Chattanooga metro, plus 9 PTAs and OTAs. Newly enumerated providers are mostly new graduates and clinicians relocating in, which is the pool every open seat in the Chattanooga metro is competing for.
Source: NPPES monthly file, October 2026 (CMS, public domain). Scope: Tennessee side of the Chattanooga metro area.
Pay
What therapists earn in the Chattanooga metro
| Role | Employed | Mean annual wage | Median | National mean |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical therapists | 520 | $96,070 | $99,120 | $105,280 |
| Physical therapist assistants | 340 | $63,850 | $62,360 | $68,730 |
| Occupational therapists | 290 | $90,070 | $95,960 | $101,280 |
| Occupational therapy assistants | 210 | $52,830 | $61,360 | $70,710 |
| Speech-language pathologists | 330 | $91,860 | $93,740 | $98,170 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025 estimates, metropolitan area. Suppressed cells show n/a.
Metro figures cover the whole Chattanooga, TN-GA statistical area. See Tennessee statewide pay →
Where therapists work
The employers in the Chattanooga metro
Therapy offices and clinics
Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists and audiologists.
1,152 employed across 62 establishments.
Average weekly wage $1,171, about $60,892 a year in sector payroll terms.
Home health
Home health care services.
1,453 employed across 59 establishments.
Average weekly wage $978, about $50,856 a year in sector payroll terms.
Nursing facilities
Skilled nursing and nursing care facilities.
2,093 employed across 16 establishments.
Average weekly wage $950, about $49,400 a year in sector payroll terms.
Hospitals
General medical and surgical hospitals.
11,437 employed across 11 establishments.
Average weekly wage $1,740, about $90,480 a year in sector payroll terms.
Source: BLS QCEW county files, private ownership, Q4 2025. Scope: Tennessee-side counties of the metro with disclosed data; wages employment-weighted. Coverage: 1 of 3 counties disclosed; BLS withholds counties with too few employers to disclose.
Facilities
13 Medicare-certified nursing homes and 9 home health agencies in the Chattanooga metro.
Nursing homes
13 facilities with 2,010 certified beds. Average overall CMS star rating 3.1 of 5. 84.6% are for-profit. Every one of them bills therapy minutes, and every one of them is hiring PTs, OTs and SLPs in the same market you are.
Home health agencies
9 agencies, average quality-of-care star rating 3.9 of 5. 88.9% offer physical therapy, 88.9% occupational therapy and 77.8% speech therapy, so most are staffing at least one therapy discipline and many all three.
Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog (nursing homes 4pq5-n9py, home health 6jpm-sxkc), pulled 2026-10-15.
Tell us about the openingFor employers
Hiring in Chattanooga? Physical therapy, OT and SLP recruiting, run by a clinician.
Engagement model
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
Speed to first candidates
Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Guarantee
Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Questions hiring managers and directors of rehab ask us
How does a therapy search with APT Recruiting work in Chattanooga?+
It starts with a short call to take the brief: the discipline, the setting, the caseload and productivity expectations, the schedule and the pay range. Because APT is run by a licensed speech-language pathologist, the screen covers clinical fit, not just a license check. We then work the Chattanooga market for PTs, OTs, SLPs or audiologists who match, confirm interest, and send you candidates who have already said yes to a conversation about your organization. Clients typically receive the first vetted candidates within one to two weeks of providing the recruiting brief and search requirements.
Do you work on contingency or retained?+
Contingency recruiting. There is no fee unless a successful placement is made.
What does it cost to hire through a therapy recruiter?+
Agreed in writing before you see a candidate's details. Every direct-hire placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate resigns or is terminated for cause during the first ninety calendar days of employment, APT Recruiting immediately begins a one-time search for a replacement in the same position, at no additional charge.
Which roles and settings do you cover?+
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, including PTAs, COTAs and SLPAs, plus directors of rehab and other therapy leadership. Settings in Chattanooga include hospitals and acute rehab, skilled nursing, home health, outpatient clinics, schools and pediatrics, and telehealth. We also recruit nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Or email molly@aptrecruiting.com. Molly reads every brief herself.
Reviewed by a licensed SLP
Molly Salinas, M.S., CCC-SLP
The Chattanooga, TN figures on this page are drawn from public federal sources and reviewed by Molly, a licensed speech-language pathologist who has worked across healthcare settings and founded APT Recruiting. She has recruited therapists for 3 years and works from Austin, Texas. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.
Licensure compacts are set at the state level. See Tennessee's PT, OT and ASLP compact status →
Hiring in Chattanooga?
Tell us the discipline, the setting and the pay range. We will give you an honest read on the local market before the search starts.