Physician Assistant salary in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Physician Assistants in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn a median of $121,600 a year ($58.46 an hour), based on BLS data for 180 workers.
Pay ranges from $99,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,790 for the top 10%. That is 11% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 3% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $118,240. There are 0.67 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.64). The average (mean) salary is $119,560, close to the median.
Pay range for physician assistants in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $99,530 | $47.85 |
| 25th percentile | $103,700 | $49.86 |
| Median | $121,600 | $58.46 |
| 75th percentile | $132,690 | $63.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $140,790 | $67.69 |
| Average (mean) | $119,560 | $57.48 |
Half of physician assistants earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $10,133.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,066.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,676.92 |
| Weekly | $2,338.46 |
| Hourly | $58.46 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $121,600 salary, see how much house you can afford in Tennessee at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physician Assistant salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $129,050 | 750 |
| Savannah, GA | $125,500 | 130 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $125,460 | 160 |
| Macon-Bibb County, GA | $122,670 | 120 |
| Rome, GA | $122,440 | 50 |
| Albany, GA | $122,170 | 30 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $121,900 | 290 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $121,710 | 80 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $117,490 | 130 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $117,240 | 350 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $117,030 | 80 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $111,810 | 3,970 |
| Gainesville, GA | $111,440 | 70 |
| Knoxville, TN | $107,980 | 240 |
| Jackson, TN | $104,600 | 60 |
| Morristown, TN | $103,350 | 30 |
| Johnson City, TN | $100,060 | 130 |
Highest-paying states for physician assistants
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $165,690 |
| California | $165,650 |
| Washington | $164,360 |
| Hawaii | $164,050 |
| New York | $160,880 |
| Oregon | $155,780 |
| New Hampshire | $150,960 |
| Alaska | $150,700 |
| Vermont | $150,490 |
| Massachusetts | $142,410 |
See Physician Assistant pay in every state or the Tennessee statewide figures.
Related jobs in Chattanooga, TN-GA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $79,770 | $38.35 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $116,480 | $56.00 |
| Pharmacist | $132,240 | $63.58 |
| Physical Therapist | $99,120 | $47.65 |
| Dental Hygienist | $83,460 | $40.12 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $74,350 | $35.74 |
| Physicians, All Other | $429,900 | $206.68 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $93,740 | $45.07 |
| Occupational Therapist | $95,960 | $46.14 |
| Dentists, General | $160,620 | $77.22 |
| Veterinarian | $125,790 | $60.48 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $64,700 | $31.11 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $264,690 | $127.26 |
| General Internal Medicine Physician | $291,200 | $140.00 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Chattanooga, TN-GA
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 29-1071. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physician assistant make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area is $121,600 a year, or $58.46 an hour. Pay ranges from $99,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $140,790 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area earn at least $140,790 a year. The top 25% earn $132,690 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $99,530 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $103,700 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Chattanooga, TN-GA?
About 180 physician assistants are employed in the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, not counting the self-employed.