Physical Therapists in Tennessee. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median wage for Physical Therapists in Tennessee was $100,660 in 2024, about 1.9% below the US median of $102,556. That gap is narrow enough that Tennessee sits close to the national center for this occupation.
The spread from bottom to top earners is worth looking at. PTs at the 10th percentile earned $74,160, while those at the 90th earned $123,800. Top earners made roughly 67% more than those starting out. That kind of range usually reflects differences in setting, years of experience, and specialty certification rather than geography alone.
Tennessee's cost of living runs below the national baseline. The state's overall price index sits at 92.5, meaning goods and services cost about 7.5% less here than the US average. After adjusting for that, the $100,660 median goes further than the same figure would in a higher-cost state. In purchasing terms, it lands closer to $108,800 in national-baseline dollars, which puts Tennessee above the adjusted US median.
BLS projects employment for Physical Therapists to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, a pace it classifies as faster than average. Tennessee's population skews older than several neighboring states, which tends to sustain demand for outpatient rehab and post-surgical PT services. With 4,420 PTs employed statewide in 2024, the base is large enough that even moderate growth translates to a meaningful number of openings over the decade.
Salary distribution
Where Tennessee physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $80,930 and $111,140, with a median of $100,140.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in Tennessee
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- 02
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- 03
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- 04
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- 05
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- 06
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- 07
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- 08
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+10.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in Tennessee is $100,140.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The Tennessee median is -4.2% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,280 and the 90th-percentile at $127,500, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physical Therapists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 10.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Physical Therapists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.