How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Chattanooga, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Chattanooga, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Tennessee.
BLS OES May 2025 · Chattanooga metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Chattanooga, Tennessee earns $47.65 per hour, or $99,120 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,260 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $73,210, and the top 10% of earners make over $125,410.
That pay is 1% below the Tennessee figure of $100,140 and 4% below the national figure of $102,760. Chattanooga ranks 3rd of 10 metro areas in Tennessee for Physical Therapist pay. About 520 Physical Therapists work in the Chattanooga area.
Physical Therapist pay in Chattanooga at a glance
- Typical pay is $47.65 an hour, or $99,120 a year.
- That is 1% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $73,210; the top 10% make over $125,410.
- Typical pay rose +21% from 2015 to 2025, against +18% for Tennessee as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Chattanooga?
Pay in Chattanooga runs from entry-level positions at around $35.20 an hour to more than $60.30 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 Chattanooga
| Career stage | Chattanooga | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $73,210$35.20 an hour | $67,280$32.35 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $79,580$38.26 an hour | $80,930$38.91 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $99,120$47.65 an hour | $100,140$48.15 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $106,230$51.07 an hour | $111,140$53.43 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $125,410$60.30 an hour | $127,500$61.30 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Chattanooga area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Chattanooga
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Chattanooga area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Chattanooga was $82,240 a year. By 2025 it had reached $99,120, a change of +21%, compared with +18% for Tennessee over the same years.
How Chattanooga compares with other Tennessee cities
Franklin pays Physical Therapists the most in Tennessee at $103,380 a year, $4,260 more than Chattanooga. The lowest-paying area in the state is Cleveland at $79,230.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Chattanooga | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $103,380 | $49.70 | +4% | 1,400 |
| 2 | Memphis | $100,000 | $48.08 | +1% | 800 |
| 3 | Chattanooga | $99,120 | $47.65 | this city | 520 |
| 4 | Kingsport metro incl. Bristol | $98,690 | $47.45 | 0% | 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 | -3% | 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 Chattanooga a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Chattanooga sits close to the national figure: $99,120 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga, TN?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Chattanooga earns $99,120 a year, or $47.65 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $73,210 and the top 10% earn over $125,410.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Chattanooga?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Chattanooga is $47.65. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $35.20, and the top 10% earn over $60.30 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Chattanooga?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Chattanooga typically offer around $35.20 an hour, or $73,210 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Chattanooga higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Chattanooga pay is 1% below the Tennessee figure of $100,140 a year, ranking 3rd of 10 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $103,380.