Physical Therapists pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,210 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,410 or more. The middle half of physical therapists in Chattanooga earn between $79,580 and $106,230.
- $73K10th
- $80K25th
- $99KMedian
- $106K75th
- $125K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,070 | $8,006 | $46.19 |
| Median | $99,120 | $8,260 | $47.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,580 | $6,632 | $38.26 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,230 | $8,852 | $51.07 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapists pay in Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Physical therapists in Chattanooga earn about the same as the Tennessee average ($98,260) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($105,280). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $102,760.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $96,070 | $99,120 | $73,210 | $125,410 | 520 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $96,070, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $76,415 a year, or $6,368 a month and $2,939 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $76,415 | $6,368 |
| Working in GA | $72,370 | $6,031 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for physical therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $96,070 buys what about $105,036 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapists salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 5th 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 Chattanooga: questions
How much do physical therapists make an hour in Chattanooga?
$46.19 an hour on average, and $47.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $73,210 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,580, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapists take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $76,415 a year ($6,368 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,070. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do physical therapists earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.2%.
- 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 1.12, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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