Physician Assistant Salary in Knoxville, TN: $111,565 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physician assistant in Knoxville, TN earns a median $111,565/year (≈ $53.63/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1071). Once you factor in Knoxville's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.6), that paycheck buys what $120,521 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 8.1% below the Tennessee state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physician assistants in Knoxville, Tennessee, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $111,565, offering a noteworthy contrast to the national average of $140,391. The salary range for this profession in Knoxville extends from $94,682 at the 10th percentile to $146,373 at the 90th percentile. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, reflects the demand for PAs across specialties, where those in surgical roles typically command higher salaries compared to their counterparts in primary care. The disparity in earnings within the market emphasizes the value of specialty training and experience, particularly for PAs involved in surgical assistance and procedures.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $94,682 | $45.52 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $103,310 | $49.67 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $111,565 | $53.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $129,346 | $62.19 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $146,373 | $70.37 |
Median Salary Position
20.53% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Knoxville
In Knoxville, TN, the physician assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $51,691 (2026 est.). At $111,565, the local median is 20.53% below the national median of $140,391.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Knoxville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Knoxville Physician Assistant Pay Compares
Knoxville median: $111,565/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Knoxville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $121,398 | -8.10% less |
| National Average | $140,391 | -20.53% less |
Physician Assistants in Knoxville, TN earn a median of $111,565 per year (2026 est.), which is 20.53% lower than the national median of $140,391 and 8.10% below the Tennessee state average of $121,398.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Knoxville has a cost of living 7.43% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Knoxville, TN has a cost-of-living index of 92.569 (below the national average of 100). A physician assistant earning $111,565 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $120,521 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.03% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$102,930
2025 BLS Actual
$107,980
2026 Current Est.
$111,565
2019–2027 Growth
+12.0%
Salary Trajectory for Physician Assistants in Knoxville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.32% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $102,930 | Actual |
| 2020 | $102,040 | Actual |
| 2021 | $101,680 | Actual |
| 2022 | $103,710 | Actual |
| 2023 | $107,170 | Actual |
| 2024 | $105,840 | Actual |
| 2025 | $107,980 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $111,565 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $115,269 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Knoxville metropolitan area, the median physician assistant salary grew 4.9% from $102,930 (2019) to $107,980 (2025). At a 3.32% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $115,269 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,339 (11.99%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Knoxville metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.32% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $94,682 – $103,310 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $103,310 – $111,565 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $111,565 – $129,346 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $129,346 – $146,373 |
PA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physician assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physician Assistant Job Market in Knoxville
With approximately 240 physician assistants currently employed in Knoxville, the job market remains stable, although overall compensation is influenced by the lower cost of living in the area, with a cost-of-living index of 92.569. This figure suggests that PAs in Knoxville may experience a different purchasing power compared to their peers in more expensive regions. Among local employers, surgical specialty practices and hospital systems generally offer the highest compensation packages, contrasting with primary care offices and urgent care centers. Factors such as case volume, call coverage, and RVU productivity bonuses often determine the pay range within specialties, pushing incentives higher for PAs working in surgical settings. To maximize earnings in Knoxville, candidates should consider gaining experience in high-demand surgical specialties or optimizing their involvement in hospital settings where additional bonuses may augment base salaries.
More salary data for Knoxville, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physician assistants make in Knoxville, TN in 2026?
Is Knoxville, TN a good place to work as a physician assistant?
Can physician assistants make $100K in Knoxville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physician assistant salary in Knoxville?
How much does a physician assistant make per hour in Knoxville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Tennessee
Written by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C
Career Analyst
Jessica has 10 years of experience as a physician assistant. Her specialty is cardiology in an outpatient setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $107,980 for physician assistantsin the Knoxville metropolitan area. A 3.32% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.32%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physician assistants (SOC 29-1071).
Compiled and verified by Jessica Tran, MPAS, PA-C, a licensed physician assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov