Tennessee-based physical therapist assistants seeking clinical experience under the guidance of respected physical therapists should have no problems finding great job opportunities with high salaries.
STAR Physical Therapy, a private practice, has over 70 locations in Tennessee and employs numerous physical therapist assistants in each. These clinics have a history of rapid growth and expansion, and boast a 99.7 percent satisfaction rate among patients.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the statewide average salary for PTAs working in Tennessee clinics and practices is approximately $53,450 per year.
Job Growth and Salary Expectations for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee
According to Tennessee Labor Market Information, there were 2,250 licensed physical therapist assistants working in Tennessee as of 2012. It is estimated that this number will grow to 2,890 by 2022, representing a 29 percent increase. This amount of growth is equal to approximately 110 job openings per year.
Average salaries for physical therapist assistants tend to vary based upon the amount of experience these professionals gain. Statistics from Tennessee Labor Market Information show that entry-level PTAs can expect to earn an average salary of $35,500 per year, while a PTA with moderate experience can expect a much higher average annual salary of approximately $54,300.
Highly experienced physical therapist assistants have the potential to earn even more, making an average salary of $72,100 per year.
Salaries for Physical Therapist Assistants in Tennessee’s Major Metro and Non-Metro Areas
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released reports showing that as of May 2014, the Nashville area was home to the largest number of PTAs in Tennessee – 480. Home to 250 PTAs, the Western Tennessee nonmetropolitan area boasts the highest average PTA salary in the state. Physical therapist assistants here earn an average of $62,050 per year. The second highest average salaries ($58,620 annually) are earned by Cleveland-based PTAs. Physical therapist assistants in Morristown earn an average salary of $57,130, the third highest average for PTAs in the state.
For more details on physical therapist assistant salaries in Tennessee, see the chart below provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2014):