Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $79,040 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in Chattanooga earn between $56,920 and $74,600.
- $49K10th
- $57K25th
- $62KMedian
- $75K75th
- $79K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $63,850 | $5,321 | $30.70 |
| Median | $62,360 | $5,197 | $29.98 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $56,920 | $4,743 | $27.37 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $74,600 | $6,217 | $35.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Physical therapist assistants in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($64,060) and 7% less than the U.S. average ($68,730). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $68,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $63,850 | $62,360 | $48,960 | $79,040 | 340 |
| Tennessee | $64,060 | $62,500 | $48,010 | $80,800 | 3,390 |
| United States | $68,730 | $68,380 | $47,750 | $89,510 | 112,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary after taxes in Chattanooga
On the average salary of $63,850, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $53,483 a year, or $4,457 a month and $2,057 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $53,483 | $4,457 |
| Working in GA | $51,046 | $4,254 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for physical therapist assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $63,850 buys what about $69,809 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($67,080).
- Nashville$67,080
- Morristown$65,460
- Cleveland$64,940
- Memphis$64,000
- Chattanooga$63,850
- Johnson City$63,480
- Kingsport$63,480
- Jackson$63,450
- Knoxville$61,670
- Clarksville$60,620
Highest-paying cities for physical therapist assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,690).
- San Jose, CA$94,690
- San Francisco, CA$93,600
- Santa Cruz, CA$89,020
- Bakersfield, CA$87,150
- Santa Rosa, CA$86,840
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Physical Therapist Assistants salary in Chattanooga: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in Chattanooga?
$30.70 an hour on average, and $29.98 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $56,920, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $53,483 a year ($4,457 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $63,850. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. average for this job ($68,730).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-2021; area Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.5%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.74, this job is 1.7 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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