Physical Therapists pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,850 a year or less, while the top 10% make $124,190 or more. The middle half of physical therapists in Knoxville earn between $75,950 and $101,510.
- $65K10th
- $76K25th
- $96KMedian
- $102K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $92,960 | $7,747 | $44.69 |
| Median | $96,110 | $8,009 | $46.21 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,950 | $6,329 | $36.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $101,510 | $8,459 | $48.80 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapists pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Physical therapists in Knoxville earn 5% less than the Tennessee average ($98,260) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($105,280). At the median the gap is -6% against the U.S. median of $102,760.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $92,960 | $96,110 | $64,850 | $124,190 | 590 |
| Tennessee | $98,260 | $100,140 | $67,280 | $127,500 | 4,800 |
| United States | $105,280 | $102,760 | $77,140 | $135,140 | 267,330 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapists salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $92,960, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $74,227 a year, or $6,186 a month and $2,855 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Knoxville a good place for physical therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Knoxville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.6), so the average $92,960 buys what about $100,422 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapists salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 9th of 10 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($100,180).
- Nashville$100,180
- Memphis$97,990
- Kingsport$97,040
- Clarksville$96,400
- Chattanooga$96,070
- Morristown$95,180
- Jackson$94,850
- Johnson City$94,050
- Knoxville$92,960
- Cleveland$89,170
Highest-paying cities for physical therapists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($145,040).
- San Francisco, CA$145,040
- San Jose, CA$140,090
- Napa, CA$136,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$135,520
- Vallejo, CA$132,660
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Physical Therapists salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do physical therapists make an hour in Knoxville?
$44.69 an hour on average, and $46.21 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,850 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapists take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $74,227 a year ($6,186 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $92,960. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do physical therapists earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($105,280).
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 29-1123; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.9%.
- 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 0.81, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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