How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Bristol, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Kingsport · Bristol metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Bristol, Tennessee earns $47.45 per hour, or $98,690 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,224 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,240, and the top 10% of earners make over $122,360.
That pay is 1% below the Tennessee figure of $100,140 and 4% below the national figure of $102,760. Bristol ranks 4th of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for Physical Therapist pay. About 230 Physical Therapists work in the Kingsport · Bristol area. Bristol is part of the Kingsport · Bristol metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so Kingsport share these figures.
Physical Therapist pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $47.45 an hour, or $98,690 a year.
- That is 1% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $68,240; the top 10% make over $122,360.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $32.81 an hour to more than $58.83 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $68,240$32.81 an hour | $67,280$32.35 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $79,920$38.42 an hour | $80,930$38.91 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $98,690$47.45 an hour | $100,140$48.15 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $114,070$54.84 an hour | $111,140$53.43 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $122,360$58.83 an hour | $127,500$61.30 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Kingsport · Bristol area as BLS defines it
How Bristol compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays Physical Therapists the most in Tennessee at $103,380 a year, $4,690 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cleveland at $79,230.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $103,380 | $49.70 | +5% | 1,400 |
| 2 | Memphis | $100,000 | $48.08 | +1% | 800 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $99,120 | $47.65 | 0% | 520 |
| 4 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $98,690 | $47.45 | this city | 230 |
| 5 | Clarksville | $97,810 | $47.02 | -1% | 130 |
| 6 | Morristown | $97,150 | $46.71 | -2% | 80 |
| 7 | Johnson City | $96,660 | $46.47 | -2% | 180 |
| 8 | Jackson | $96,610 | $46.45 | -2% | 140 |
| 9 | Knoxville | $96,110 | $46.21 | -3% | 590 |
| 10 | Cleveland | $79,230 | $38.09 | -20% | 80 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $100,140
Is Bristol a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Bristol sits close to the national figure: $98,690 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 1.9 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. Physical Therapist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Bristol, TN?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Bristol earns $98,690 a year, or $47.45 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $68,240 and the top 10% earn over $122,360.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Bristol is $47.45. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $32.81, and the top 10% earn over $58.83 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Bristol?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Bristol typically offer around $32.81 an hour, or $68,240 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 1% below the Tennessee figure of $100,140 a year, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $103,380.