How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Tennessee in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in Tennessee earns about $48.15 per hour ($100,140 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). Spread evenly across the year, that comes to roughly $8,345 a month or $1,926 a week. Those are calculated figures, derived from the annual number rather than separately reported. Pay for individual therapists varies by city, setting, and experience level across the state.

Tennessee's typical pay runs 3% below the national figure of $102,760 a year, per the same May 2025 data. That places the state 31st out of 51 states and the District of Columbia for Physical Therapist pay. About 4,800 Physical Therapists work across Tennessee. Pay that trails the national figure often tracks a lower cost of living in much of the state, and that link holds true here.

Entry-level positions in Tennessee typically offer around $32.35 an hour, or about $67,280 a year, for Physical Therapists just starting out. That's the pay range most new graduates can expect in a hospital, outpatient clinic, or skilled nursing setting. Pay tends to rise steadily from there, and most therapists reach the statewide typical pay of $48.15 an hour within several years of experience.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Tennessee often earn upwards of $53.43 an hour, or around $111,140 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $61.30 an hour, or $127,500 a year, typically in specialized practice or leadership roles. The gap between entry-level and top pay comes to $60,220 a year. Setting, experience, and city all play a part in where a given therapist lands.

Tennessee's typical Physical Therapist pay climbed from $84,770 in 2015 to $100,140 in 2025, a gain of $15,370 over the decade. That's a rise of 18%, with growth picking up noticeably after 2020 as pay moved from $88,880 that year to $95,370 in 2021. Pay held roughly flat between 2024 and 2025, easing slightly from $100,660 to $100,140. Overall, the decade shows steady upward movement rather than a straight line.

Nationally, typical Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same decade, a few points faster than Tennessee's climb. That gap suggests Tennessee's pay growth has trailed the national pace even as dollar figures moved up each year. For someone starting a Physical Therapist career in Tennessee now, the decade of data shows pay has moved higher over time, though nothing about future increases is guaranteed.

Physical Therapist pay runs highest in the Nashville area, where Franklin, Murfreesboro, Davidson, and Nashville all report a typical $103,380 a year ($49.70 an hour). That's about 3% above the statewide figure of $100,140. These figures cover each city's full metro area rather than just the city limits, so the Nashville-area number reflects pay across a wide surrounding region.

Cleveland reports the lowest typical pay in the state, at $79,230 a year ($38.09 an hour), a spread of $24,150 between Tennessee's highest- and lowest-paying metro areas. The Nashville area also has the largest Physical Therapist workforce, with about 1,400 professionals reported there. Cities with higher pay generally carry a higher cost of living, so the extra income often goes toward higher housing and everyday costs rather than being pure gain.

Among neighboring states, Georgia pays the most for Physical Therapists at $102,700 a year, about 3% above Tennessee's figure, while Alabama pays the least at $97,290, about 3% below. Virginia and Kentucky both run close to Tennessee, each about 1% higher. Mississippi and North Carolina sit almost even with Tennessee's pay. Physical Therapist licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can make it easier to compare offers across state lines.

Physical Therapists in Tennessee typically earn $100,140 a year ($48.15 an hour) as of May 2025, up 18% over the past decade. Pay varies by city, experience, and setting, from entry-level positions near $67,280 to top earners well above $127,500. Readers weighing a move to Tennessee or a new city within it can check the state licensing board's requirements and the city-specific pages here for local figures before making a decision.