Physician Assistant salary in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
Physician Assistants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn a median of $129,050 a year ($62.04 an hour), based on BLS data for 750 workers.
Pay ranges from $104,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,780 for the top 10%. That is 5% lower than the national median of $135,880. Pay here is 9% higher than the Tennessee statewide median of $118,240. There are 0.68 physician assistants per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.65). The average (mean) salary is $124,670, close to the median.
Pay range for physician assistants in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $104,990 | $50.48 |
| 25th percentile | $111,120 | $53.42 |
| Median | $129,050 | $62.04 |
| 75th percentile | $133,800 | $64.33 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $150,780 | $72.49 |
| Average (mean) | $124,670 | $59.94 |
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 | $10,754.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,377.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,963.46 |
| Weekly | $2,481.73 |
| Hourly | $62.04 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $129,050 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nurse | $84,040 | $40.40 |
| Nurse Practitioner | $122,320 | $58.81 |
| Pharmacist | $137,590 | $66.15 |
| Physicians, All Other | $295,640 | $142.14 |
| Dental Hygienist | $94,030 | $45.21 |
| Physical Therapist | $103,380 | $49.70 |
| Dentists, General | $215,290 | $103.51 |
| Respiratory Therapist | $78,700 | $37.84 |
| Speech-Language Pathologist | $83,780 | $40.28 |
| Nurse Anesthetist | $211,450 | $101.66 |
| Occupational Therapist | $100,630 | $48.38 |
| Family Medicine Physician | $211,370 | $101.62 |
| Veterinarian | $126,230 | $60.69 |
| Anesthesiologist | $328,840 | $158.10 |
More: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations · all salaries in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, 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 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The median salary for physician assistants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area is $129,050 a year, or $62.04 an hour. Pay ranges from $104,990 for the lowest-paid 10% to $150,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physician assistants make in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
The top 10% of physician assistants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area earn at least $150,780 a year. The top 25% earn $133,800 or more.
What is the starting pay for physician assistants in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $104,990 a year, and a quarter of physician assistants earn $111,120 or less.
How many physician assistants work in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN?
About 750 physician assistants are employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN metro area, not counting the self-employed.