How Much Does a Physician Assistant Make in Bristol, TN in 2026?
Typical pay for Physician Assistants 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 Physician Assistant in Bristol, Tennessee earns $56.49 per hour, or $117,490 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $9,791 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $95,950, and the top 10% of earners make over $136,810.
That pay is 1% below the Tennessee figure of $118,240 and 14% below the national figure of $135,880. Bristol ranks 5th of 9 metro areas in Tennessee for Physician Assistant pay. About 130 Physician Assistants 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.
Physician Assistant pay in Bristol at a glance
- Typical pay is $56.49 an hour, or $117,490 a year.
- That is 1% below the Tennessee figure, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $95,950; the top 10% make over $136,810.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physician Assistant make in Bristol?
Pay in Bristol runs from entry-level positions at around $46.13 an hour to more than $65.77 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Tennessee and national figures.
Physician Assistant pay by career stage in Bristol
| Career stage | Bristol | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $95,950$46.13 an hour | $93,380$44.89 an hour | $99,380$47.78 an hour |
| First years | $100,740$48.43 an hour | $102,690$49.37 an hour | $120,670$58.02 an hour |
| Typical Physician Assistant | $117,490$56.49 an hour | $118,240$56.85 an hour | $135,880$65.33 an hour |
| Experienced | $136,810$65.77 an hour | $132,500$63.70 an hour | $163,980$78.84 an hour |
| Top 10% | $136,810$65.77 an hour | $141,670$68.11 an hour | $190,280$91.48 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 Physician Assistants the most in Tennessee at $129,050 a year, $11,560 more than Bristol. The lowest-paying area in the state is Johnson City at $100,060.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Bristol | Physician Assistants employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Franklin | $129,050 | $62.04 | +10% | 750 |
| 2 | Memphis | $121,900 | $58.61 | +4% | 290 |
| 3 | Clarksville | $121,710 | $58.51 | +4% | 80 |
| 4 | Chattanooga | $121,600 | $58.46 | +3% | 180 |
| 5 | Bristol metro incl. Kingsport | $117,490 | $56.49 | this city | 130 |
| 6 | Knoxville | $107,980 | $51.91 | -8% | 240 |
| 7 | Jackson | $104,600 | $50.29 | -11% | 60 |
| 8 | Morristown | $103,350 | $49.69 | -12% | 30 |
| 9 | Johnson City | $100,060 | $48.11 | -15% | 130 |
Every metro area in Tennessee with Physician Assistant wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Tennessee typical pay $118,240
Is Bristol a good place to work as a Physician Assistant?
Physician Assistants in Bristol earn less than the national figure: typical pay is $117,490 a year, 14% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Kingsport · Bristol area, about 1.1 are Physician Assistant positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.0. Physician Assistant jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physician Assistant make in Bristol, TN?
- A typical Physician Assistant in Bristol earns $117,490 a year, or $56.49 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $95,950 and the top 10% earn over $136,810.
- How much does a Physician Assistant make an hour in Bristol?
- Typical hourly pay for Physician Assistants in Bristol is $56.49. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $46.13, and the top 10% earn over $65.77 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physician Assistant in Bristol?
- Entry-level Physician Assistant positions in Bristol typically offer around $46.13 an hour, or $95,950 a year.
- Is Physician Assistant pay in Bristol higher than in the rest of Tennessee?
- Bristol pay is 1% below the Tennessee figure of $118,240 a year, ranking 5th of 9 metro areas in the state. Franklin pays the most in Tennessee at $129,050.