Physical Therapist Salary in Tennessee (2026)
The average Physical Therapist in Tennessee earns around $88,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $70,738/year ($5,895/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $70,738 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $5,895 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $2,721 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $34/hr |
Federal Tax | $10,530 |
State Tax | $0 |
FICA Taxes | $6,732 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 19.62% |
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Physical Therapist Salary Ranges in Tennessee
Not all Physical Therapists earn the same — not even close
TN physical therapy splits across academic-medical (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, St. Jude Children's, UT Medical Center Knoxville, Methodist Le Bonheur), HCA-affiliated regional hospitals, regional outpatient ortho (ATI Physical Therapy, Select Medical, Athletico, Drayer Physical Therapy Institute, Results Physiotherapy), home health (Bayada, Encompass), sports medicine (Nashville Predators NHL, Tennessee Titans NFL, Memphis Grizzlies NBA, Nashville SC MLS, plus Vanderbilt Athletics + UT Knoxville Athletics + Memphis Athletics), and federal (VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare). University of Tennessee Health Science Center DPT (Memphis), Belmont University DPT (Nashville), East Tennessee State University DPT (Johnson City), Lincoln Memorial University DPT (Harrogate), Tennessee State University DPT, and Union University DPT produce the in-state pipeline. PT Compact (since 2018, TN member) for interstate practice mobility.
Outpatient Orthopedic PT
$78,000-$95,000
ATI / Select / Athletico / Drayer / Results / private · 2-7 yr post-DPT
Acute Care PT (Vanderbilt / HCA)
$85,000-$108,000
Academic-medical premium · ICU / neuro / cardiac · Vanderbilt Magnet
Inpatient Rehab PT
$82,000-$105,000
Vanderbilt + Methodist Le Bonheur + Patricia Neal Rehab Knoxville · stroke / TBI / SCI specialty
Sports Medicine / Orthopedic Specialty
$95,000-$128,000
OCS / SCS cert · Predators / Titans / Grizzlies / Vanderbilt + UT + Memphis Athletics
Pediatric PT (St. Jude / Le Bonheur Children's)
$85,000-$112,000
PCS cert · St. Jude Memphis + Le Bonheur Children's · top US pediatric PT market
Home Health PT
$85,000-$118,000
PRN / per-diem · $80-105/visit · Nashville / Memphis / Knoxville markets
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare PT
$82,000-$125,000
GS-12/13 + locality · federal · PSLF + FERS pension · Nashville VA
PT Clinic Owner / Director
$125,000-$215,000
Private practice · 2-5 employee clinic · TN State Board of Physical Therapy licensure
Worth knowing: Vanderbilt University Medical Center anchors TN academic PT — Vanderbilt Sports Medicine is one of the top US sports medicine programs and provides team coverage for Vanderbilt Athletics + Nashville Predators NHL + Tennessee Titans NFL. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis) is a top US pediatric oncology center with substantial pediatric PT roles. Le Bonheur Children's Hospital (Memphis) anchors west TN pediatric PT. Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center (Knoxville, Covenant Health-affiliated) is a top TN inpatient rehab specialty hospital. The TN sports medicine market is uniquely deep: Nashville Predators (NHL), Tennessee Titans (NFL), Memphis Grizzlies (NBA), Nashville SC (MLS), plus IndyCar / NASCAR Bristol Motor Speedway, plus Vanderbilt Athletics + UT Knoxville Athletics + Memphis Athletics + East Tennessee State Athletics. UT Health Science Center DPT (Memphis) is the largest TN DPT program. PT Compact (since 2018, TN member) enables interstate practice mobility across 30+ compact states.
Tennessee PT — 0% state, Vanderbilt premium, sports medicine market, PT Compact
0%
TN state on wages + Hall repealed + 0% estate + 0% inheritance
$95-128K
Sports medicine + OCS / SCS specialty · Predators / Titans / Grizzlies / Vanderbilt / UT
$78-95K
Outpatient orthopedic PT · ATI / Select / Athletico / Drayer / Results · base + productivity
$85-112K
St. Jude / Le Bonheur Children's pediatric PT · PCS cert · top US pediatric market
Most PT roles are -exempt under the professional exemption — Vanderbilt / HCA / Methodist / St. Jude / UT Medical / Covenant staff PT positions are all exempt salaried. 's overtime deduction does not apply to standard PT comp. The TN market drivers: 0% state tax structure (vs MA's 5%, MD's 8%), Vanderbilt + St. Jude academic-medical premium, Nashville Predators / Titans / Memphis Grizzlies sports medicine market, PT Compact mobility (since 2018), density.
Per-diem and home-health PT work at HCA outpatient, home-health agencies (Bayada, Encompass, Aveanna) produces hourly or 1099 contractor income at $80-105/hr — typically not OT-classified but treated as supplemental productivity-based income. Outpatient ortho PT at ATI / Select / Athletico / Drayer / Results runs productivity-bonus structure on top of base salary; high-volume PT can stack $8-22K/year bonus.
Real numbers: a Vanderbilt acute care PT at $98K base — TN state tax = $0/year. Same comp in MD: $7,840/year combined. TN saves $7,840/year vs MD. Same comp in MA: $4,900. TN saves $4,900/year vs MA. Same comp in IN (Hamilton): $4,020. TN saves $4,020/year vs IN. eligibility ($115-160K DPT federal balance forgiven after 10 years at Vanderbilt / Methodist / St. Jude / UT Medical / Covenant / VA Tennessee Valley) saves $70-130K in lifetime debt. The TN 0% state + Vanderbilt premium + PSLF + 0% retirement-state combination is among the most attractive US PT comp + lifetime structures.
Tennessee for physical therapists — the honest take
TN PT clusters in three corridors. The Nashville / Williamson corridor (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA Healthcare HQ + Nashville-area hospitals, Vanderbilt Sports Medicine + Nashville Predators / Titans / Nashville SC team coverage, plus regional outpatient ortho ATI / Select / Athletico) is the densest US PT market by single-employer concentration outside Boston / NYC. The Memphis corridor (Methodist Le Bonheur, St. Jude Children's, Le Bonheur Children's, Saint Francis, Memphis Grizzlies team coverage) anchors west TN with strong oncology + pediatric specialty. The Knoxville (UT Medical Center, Covenant Health, Patricia Neal Rehab, UT Knoxville Athletics + Bristol Motor Speedway 30 min north) and Chattanooga (Erlanger, Volkswagen-adjacent industrial PT) corridors anchor east TN.
Vanderbilt's academic-medical premium drives the TN PT top tier. Vanderbilt staff PT comp ($85-108K depending on specialty) runs $5-15K above community-hospital comp at HCA-affiliated regional hospitals. Plus Vanderbilt Sports Medicine team coverage for Predators NHL / Titans NFL / Nashville SC MLS / Vanderbilt Athletics provides substantial sports-medicine specialty career arc. Williamson County housing $375-625K affordable mid-tier, $625K-$1.2M premium tier. Davidson (East Nashville, Sylvan Park) at $325-625K. Memphis (Germantown, Collierville) $400-700K. Knoxville (Farragut, West Knoxville) $325-650K.
Most TN PTs retire in-state — TN's 0% state + 0% estate + 0% inheritance + low 0.64% property tax is among the most favorable US PT retirement structures. Vanderbilt + accumulation + HCA + outpatient ortho productivity bonus + sports medicine seasonal income retire well in TN structure. Common retirement patterns: stay in Williamson / Davidson / Sumner for grandkid proximity, or migrate to Smoky Mountains foothills (Sevier, Blount), Lake Norris (Anderson), or Cumberland Plateau for retirement lifestyle.
How Tennessee taxes work for physical therapists (and where the levers are)
TN charges 0% state income tax — no wage tax. The Hall income tax (which historically taxed dividends and interest at 6%) was fully repealed effective 2021, so investment income is also 0% state. For a Vanderbilt acute care PT at $98K total: TN state tax = $0/year. Same comp in MA: $4,900/year. Same comp in MD: $7,840/year combined. Same comp in IN (Hamilton): $4,020/year combined. TN saves $4,020-7,840/year vs MA / MD / IN at the staff PT comp tier.
maxing is the central active-duty move. Vanderbilt as 501(c)(3) academic medical center offers BOTH and for combined $49,000/year pre-tax shelter. Methodist Le Bonheur + St. Jude + UT Medical + Covenant + Erlanger all offer 403(b) at $24,500/year + match. HCA Healthcare offers 401(k) + ESPP (15% off) + RSU at corporate roles. At $98K TN PT + 22% federal marginal, maxing $24,500 saves $5,390/year federal (no state offset since TN is 0%).
for non-profit hospital PTs at Vanderbilt / Methodist / St. Jude / UT Medical / Covenant / Patricia Neal Rehab / Erlanger / VA Tennessee Valley — 10 years of qualifying federal student loan payments resulting in tax-free DPT debt forgiveness. For a PT with $135K DPT federal balance, 10 years at Vanderbilt or VA Tennessee Valley erases the entire balance vs the typical 25-year self-pay. Lifetime savings $70-130K — a far bigger lever than the TN-vs-MA annual tax delta.
Sports medicine specialty + PT Compact (since 2018, TN member) is the unique TN active-duty lever. Nashville Predators NHL + Tennessee Titans NFL + Memphis Grizzlies NBA + Nashville SC MLS team coverage at Vanderbilt Sports Medicine, plus UT Knoxville + Memphis + Vanderbilt Athletics, plus IndyCar / NASCAR Bristol Motor Speedway — uniquely deep US sports medicine market. PT Compact mobility enables TN-resident PTs to provide telehealth + locum coverage in 30+ compact states. Annual income $115-165K typical for senior sports medicine + travel PT.
- →TN 0% state on wages + 0% on investment income + 0% estate + 0% inheritance · saves $4-8K/year vs MA / MD / IN at staff PT comp tier
- →Vanderbilt Magnet + combined $49K/year federal pre-tax shelter (501(c)(3) academic medical center)
- → on $135K DPT federal balance: 10 years at Vanderbilt / Methodist / St. Jude / UT Medical / Covenant / Erlanger / VA = tax-free forgiveness · $70-130K lifetime savings
- →Pursue OCS / SCS specialty cert: $5-15K base premium · $95-128K specialty comp tier
- →Sports medicine track at Vanderbilt: Predators / Titans / Nashville SC / Vanderbilt Athletics · uniquely deep US sports medicine market
- →Pediatric PT at St. Jude (Memphis) or Le Bonheur Children's: PCS cert + premium pediatric specialty · $85-112K + Magnet hospital prestige
- →Federal PT (VA Tennessee Valley) at $24,500/year + 5% government match · GS-12 entry $85K + locality · FERS pension +
- →PT Compact (since 2018): per-diem coverage in 30+ compact states · adds $8-18K/year supplemental at TN 0% residency
The Tennessee PT career arc — DPT entry to specialty / clinic ownership
Years 0-3 (post-DPT): $72-90K. DPT (3-year doctorate post-undergrad) + NPTE national exam + TN State Board of Physical Therapy licensure. UT Health Science Center DPT (Memphis), Belmont DPT (Nashville), ETSU DPT (Johnson City), Lincoln Memorial DPT (Harrogate), Tennessee State, Union University DPT graduates dominate the in-state pipeline. Decision point: outpatient ortho (ATI / Select / Athletico / Drayer / Results $72-90K starting + productivity bonus) vs acute care (Vanderbilt / HCA / Methodist / St. Jude $78-98K starting) vs pediatric (St. Jude / Le Bonheur Children's $78-95K) vs federal (VA Tennessee Valley GS-12 entry $80K + locality + ).
Years 3-10 (established practice + specialty): $85-128K depending on specialty. Vanderbilt / Methodist / St. Jude acute-care + pediatric PT $85-108K with academic-medical premium. Outpatient ortho with productivity bonus reaches $95-115K. Sports medicine + OCS / SCS cert specialty $108-128K + Predators / Titans / Grizzlies team-coverage premium during seasons. Federal VA Tennessee Valley reaches GS-13 ($110K + locality). Maxing at Vanderbilt ($24,500/year) is the peak active-duty lever for academic-track PT.
Years 10+ (senior PT / clinic owner / federal senior / retirement): $115-215K depending on track. Senior PT clinical leadership $128-165K. Clinic owner private practice $145-215K with proper + solo + cash-balance plan structure. VA Tennessee Valley at GS-14 step-10 reaches $145K + locality + FERS pension. Most TN PTs retire in-state — TN's 0% state + 0% estate + 0% inheritance is among the most favorable US PT retirement structures.
Where Tennessee PTs actually live
TN PT housing tracks employer + commute. Vanderbilt + HCA Nashville PTs in Williamson affordable (Spring Hill, Nolensville), Davidson (East Nashville, Sylvan Park), Sumner (Hendersonville), or Wilson (Mt. Juliet). Methodist Le Bonheur + St. Jude PTs in Shelby (Germantown, Collierville). UT Medical Knoxville PTs in Knox. Erlanger Chattanooga PTs in Hamilton.
Spring Hill / Nolensville (Williamson affordable)
$375-625K · 0% state · Vanderbilt / HCA Nashville commute · top schools
East Nashville / Sylvan Park (Davidson)
$325-625K · 0% state · Vanderbilt commute · urban DH market
Hendersonville (Sumner)
$375-625K · 0% state · Vanderbilt / Sumner Regional
Germantown / Collierville (Shelby/Memphis)
$400-700K · 0% state · Methodist Le Bonheur + St. Jude
Farragut / West Knoxville (Knox)
$325-650K · 0% state · UT Medical Knoxville + Patricia Neal Rehab
TN's Vanderbilt + St. Jude academic-medical premium + Nashville Predators / Titans / Grizzlies sports medicine market + PT Compact mobility (since 2018) + 0% state retirement structure make TN among the most balanced US PT markets — strong active-duty + most-favorable retirement structure of any state.
Is this the right move?
Tennessee PT — who it's best for
Working in your favor
- +TN 0% state + 0% Hall + 0% estate + 0% inheritance · most favorable US PT tax structure
- +Vanderbilt University Medical Center: top academic-medical PT + Vanderbilt Sports Medicine for Predators / Titans / Nashville SC / Vanderbilt Athletics
- +St. Jude Children's Research Hospital + Le Bonheur Children's: top US pediatric oncology + pediatric PT specialty
- +PT Compact member state (since 2018): interstate practice mobility across 30+ states · $8-18K/year supplemental
- +PSLF density: Vanderbilt / Methodist / St. Jude / UT Medical / Covenant / VA Tennessee Valley · $70-130K lifetime DPT forgiveness
Worth knowing before you sign
- −TN base PT comp ($78-95K mid-career) below MA / NY / CA · 0% state offsets but headline lower
- −Outpatient ortho productivity-bonus pressure (ATI / Select / Athletico / Drayer / Results) · burnout reported industry-wide
- −DPT $115-160K federal balance load · PSLF eligibility critical for non-federal-track PTs
- −Sports medicine market seasonal · NFL / NBA / NHL / MLS seasonal · uneven OT during off-season
- −Sales tax 7% state + local (up to 9.75%) · highest combined US sales tax · partially offsets 0% income tax for high-spending households
Job Market in Tennessee
Tennessee has active demand for Physical Therapists.
Growth outlook: 15% growth through 2032 (much faster than average)
Related job titles:
Cost of Living in Tennessee
Tennessee has a varied cost of living by region.
💰 Monthly take-home: $5,895
🏠 Typical rent: $1,600/mo
📊 After rent: $4,295/mo
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