Tennessee's average physician assistant salary of $117,300 sits below the national mean of $141,280 by 17.0%, which positions it as a relatively cost-effective market for employers. Nearby Virginia averages $142,630 and North Carolina averages $130,030, so candidates with multi-state options may expect higher offers from those markets. If you are competing for talent with Virginia-based employers in particular, plan to address that gap directly in your total compensation package.
Physician assistant salary in Tennessee (2026)
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The average physician assistant salary in Tennessee is $117,300 per year. A small pool of very high earners pulls that average upward, so the median of $118,240 gives employers a more reliable starting point for most hiring decisions. Tennessee employs 2,240 physician assistants, and the $940 gap between the mean and median signals real variation in the candidate pool you will be evaluating. Junior physician assistants in Tennessee typically earn around $93,380, while senior specialists commonly reach or exceed the $141,670 level at the 90th percentile. Plan for a range rather than a single number when budgeting for a physician assistant hire in Tennessee, and anchor that range to the seniority and specialization of the role you are filling.
Metric / Value
Metric | Value |
Median Annual Salary | $118,240 |
Average Annual Salary | $117,300 |
vs. National Average | 17.0% below the national mean of $141,280 |
Data comes from the BLS OEWS and covers 2,240 employed physician assistants across Tennessee.
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Physician assistant salary percentiles in Tennessee
Percentile | Annual Salary |
10th Percentile | $93,380 |
25th Percentile | $102,690 |
75th Percentile | $132,500 |
90th Percentile | $141,670 |
Employers setting an offer for a physician assistant in Tennessee should expect a meaningful spread between entry-level and experienced candidates. A candidate at the lower end of the market typically commands around $93,380, while those at the senior end reach $141,670 at the 90th percentile, giving you a roughly $48,000 range to work with depending on experience and specialization.
Physician assistant salary by city in Tennessee
City | Average Annual Salary |
Nashville | $124,670 |
Memphis | $120,440 |
Clarksville | $119,790 |
Chattanooga | $119,560 |
Knoxville | $112,760 |
Location meaningfully affects what you will need to budget for a physician assistant hire in Tennessee. Nashville commands the highest average at $124,670, while Knoxville sits at $112,760, a difference of nearly $12,000 per year that should factor into your offer strategy if you are hiring across multiple markets.
How Tennessee compares to other states
State | Average Annual Salary | Median Annual Salary |
Tennessee | $117,300 | $118,240 |
Virginia | $142,630 | $135,940 |
North Carolina | $130,030 | $129,360 |
Kentucky | $119,990 | $120,760 |
Georgia | $112,090 | $115,390 |
Alabama | $110,860 | $104,960 |
Tennessee sits in the middle of the regional market, making it a cost-effective location relative to Virginia and North Carolina but broadly comparable to Kentucky. Tennessee's mean of $117,300 runs close to Kentucky's $119,990, so employers competing for candidates across state lines will not face a large compensation gap with that neighbor. Virginia's mean of $142,630 represents a more substantial premium that could matter if you are recruiting candidates who have offers from both markets.
Frequently asked questions about physician assistant salary in Tennessee
How does Tennessee compare to other states for physician assistant salary?
What do the top-earning physician assistants make in Tennessee?
Physician assistants at the 90th percentile in Tennessee earn $141,670 per year. The 75th percentile sits at $132,500, so candidates with specialized experience or leadership responsibilities will likely expect offers in that upper range. Budget accordingly if the role you are filling requires deep clinical specialization or supervisory duties.
What is the salary range for a physician assistant in Tennessee?
The salary range for a physician assistant in Tennessee runs from $93,380 at the 10th percentile to $141,670 at the 90th percentile. The middle of the market, between the 25th and 75th percentiles, spans $102,690 to $132,500, which is a practical range for most standard hiring decisions. Use the seniority and specialization of your specific role to determine where within that band your offer should land.
What is the average physician assistant salary in Tennessee?
The average physician assistant salary in Tennessee is $117,300 per year, with a median of $118,240. The median is the more useful anchor for most hiring decisions because it reflects the midpoint of actual pay rather than being pulled by outliers at the top. For a typical hire, plan your initial offer range around the median and adjust upward based on experience and specialty.
Physician Assistant salary by state
Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2025, SOC code 29-1071 (Physician Assistants).
Disclaimer
Rippling and its affiliates do not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide or be relied on for tax, accounting, or legal advice. You should consult your own tax, accounting, and legal advisors before engaging in any related activities or transactions.
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