Physician Assistant salary in Knoxville, TN
Physician Assistants in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn a median of $107,980 a year ($51.91 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $91,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $141,670 for the top 10%. That is 21% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 9% lower than the Tennessee statewide median of $118,240. There are 0.57 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.54). The average (mean) salary is $112,760, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physician assistants in Knoxville, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $91,640 | $44.06 |
| 25th percentile | $99,990 | $48.07 |
| Median | $107,980 | $51.91 |
| 75th percentile | $125,190 | $60.19 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $141,670 | $68.11 |
| Average (mean) | $112,760 | $54.21 |
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 | $8,998.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,499.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,153.08 |
| Weekly | $2,076.54 |
| Hourly | $51.91 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $107,980 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 |
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $121,900 | 290 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY | $121,710 | 80 |
| Chattanooga, TN-GA | $121,600 | 180 |
| Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA | $117,490 | 130 |
| 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 Knoxville, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $77,240 | $37.13 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $109,740 | $52.76 |
| Pharmacist | $132,460 | $63.68 |
| Physicians, All Other | $276,370 | $132.87 |
| Dental Hygienist | $84,640 | $40.69 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $460,080 | $221.19 |
| Physical Therapist | $96,110 | $46.21 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $64,800 | $31.15 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $78,060 | $37.53 |
| Occupational Therapist | $94,490 | $45.43 |
| Veterinarian | $121,160 | $58.25 |
| Dentists, General | $157,900 | $75.92 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $213,900 | $102.84 |
| Dietitians and Nutritionists | $66,330 | $31.89 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Knoxville, TN
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 Knoxville, TN?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Knoxville, TN metro area is $107,980 a year, or $51.91 an hour. Pay ranges from $91,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $141,670 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Knoxville, TN?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Knoxville, TN metro area earn at least $141,670 a year. The top 25% earn $125,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Knoxville, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $91,640 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $99,990 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Knoxville, TN?
About 240 physician assistants are employed in the Knoxville, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.