Physician Assistants pay range in Knoxville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $141,670 or more. The middle half of physician assistants in Knoxville earn between $99,990 and $125,190.
- $92K10th
- $100K25th
- $108KMedian
- $125K75th
- $142K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $112,760 | $9,397 | $54.21 |
| Median | $107,980 | $8,998 | $51.91 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $99,990 | $8,332 | $48.07 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $125,190 | $10,432 | $60.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physician Assistants pay in Knoxville vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Physician assistants in Knoxville earn 4% less than the Tennessee average ($117,300) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($141,280). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $135,880.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville | $112,760 | $107,980 | $91,640 | $141,670 | 240 |
| Tennessee | $117,300 | $118,240 | $93,380 | $141,670 | 2,240 |
| United States | $141,280 | $135,880 | $99,380 | $190,280 | 162,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physician Assistants salary after taxes in Knoxville
On the average salary of $112,760, a single filer in Knoxville takes home about $88,157 a year, or $7,346 a month and $3,391 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% 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 physician assistants? 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 $112,760 buys what about $121,812 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Knoxville ($47,080). A typical home costs $367,158, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physician Assistants salary in other Tennessee cities
Knoxville ranks 6th of 9 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Nashville pays the most ($124,670).
- Nashville$124,670
- Memphis$120,440
- Clarksville$119,790
- Chattanooga$119,560
- Kingsport$117,710
- Knoxville$112,760
- Johnson City$109,060
- Jackson$108,210
- Morristown$106,000
Highest-paying cities for physician assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($207,660).
- San Jose, CA$207,660
- Salinas, CA$202,320
- San Francisco, CA$182,610
- Vallejo, CA$182,520
- Bakersfield, CA$177,840
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Physician Assistants salary in Knoxville: questions
How much do physician assistants make an hour in Knoxville?
$54.21 an hour on average, and $51.91 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physician assistants salary in Knoxville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $99,990, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physician assistants take-home pay in Knoxville?
About $88,157 a year ($7,346 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $112,760. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do physician assistants earn more in Knoxville than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% less than the U.S. average for this job ($141,280).
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 29-1071; area Knoxville, TN (28940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.5%.
- 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 0.54, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.54).
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