Tennessee Median
$118,240
per year
Hourly Rate
$56.85
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-13% vs US median
US median $135,880
State Rank
#48 of 51
2,240 employed here
How much does a Physician Assistant make in Tennessee?
Physician Assistants in Tennessee take home a median of $118,240 annually — roughly $56.85 an hour — which runs 13% below the national median of $135,880.
Within Tennessee, entry-level pay starts around $93,380 while the top 10% make $141,670 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $102,690 and $132,500 a year.
Physician Assistant salary range in Tennessee
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $93,380 | $44.89 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $102,690 | $49.37 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $118,240 | $56.85 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $132,500 | $63.70 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,670 | $68.11 |
|
How Tennessee compares
Tennessee ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories for Physician Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physician Assistant salary in other states
New Jersey $165,690California $165,650Washington $164,360Hawaii $164,050New York $160,880Oregon $155,780New Hampshire $150,960Alaska $150,700Vermont $150,490Massachusetts $142,410Montana $141,470Minnesota $141,190Rhode Island $139,930New Mexico $139,920Connecticut $139,860Delaware $139,350Maryland $137,560Oklahoma $136,550Wyoming $136,080Virginia $135,940District of Columbia $135,140Missouri $135,130Iowa $134,770Utah $134,740Nevada $134,660Arizona $134,650Texas $134,550Colorado $134,540Wisconsin $133,950Idaho $133,790North Dakota $133,450South Dakota $133,200Nebraska $133,040Ohio $132,090Indiana $132,050Illinois $131,950Michigan $131,510Maine $131,170Florida $129,620North Carolina $129,360Louisiana $128,870West Virginia $128,610Pennsylvania $127,070Kansas $125,640South Carolina $122,490Kentucky $120,760Arkansas $118,430Georgia $115,390Mississippi $105,920Alabama $104,960
Working as a Physician Assistant in Tennessee
Nationally, about 162,000 people work as Physician Assistants in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare Tennessee pay ($118,240) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physician Assistant make in Tennessee?
The median Physician Assistant salary in Tennessee is $118,240 per year, or about $56.85 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $93,380 at the entry level to $141,670 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Tennessee pay compare to the national average?
Tennessee pays Physician Assistants about 13% less than the national median of $135,880. Tennessee ranks 48th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Tennessee a good state for Physician Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $118,240 a year. About 2,240 Physician Assistants are employed in Tennessee. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Tennessee?
The highest-paying occupations in Tennessee include Cardiologist ($610,080), Dermatologist ($433,630), Surgeon, All Other ($373,510), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Physician Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.