Physical Therapists salary in Memphis, TN
Median pay for physical therapists in Memphis, TN: $100,220/yr
Typical range (10th–90th percentile): $78,620 – $119,930 · about 870 employed locally
Above the typical metro median ($98,205) by +$2,015 (+2%).
What it's really worth in Memphis
With Memphis's cost of living at 92 (US=100), that $100,220 has the buying power of about $108,998 in an average-cost US metro.
Local context: median household income $62,178 · median home $247,229 · median rent $1,441/mo.
How Memphis ranks for this job
On raw pay, Memphis, TN is 64th of the 186 metros we hold physical therapists wages for. Once Memphis's cost of living is applied, it ranks 35th.
Pay here goes further than the headline number suggests — Memphis is one of the places where physical therapists gain ground in real terms, because local costs are low relative to what the job pays.
What that salary buys in Memphis
A median home in Memphis, TN costs $247,229 — about 2.5× this salary, against a typical US metro figure of 4.7×. Buying is more attainable here than in the average metro on this income.
Median rent of $1,441/mo works out at 17% of gross pay — inside the conventional 30% affordability ceiling.
Where physical therapists earn more
Pay on its own is only half the picture, so each row shows what rent costs there relative to Memphis.
| Metro | Median pay | vs Memphis | Rent vs Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa, CA | $132,870 | +33% | 1.8× |
| San Jose, CA | $131,930 | +32% | 2.5× |
| Sacramento, CA | $131,760 | +31% | 1.6× |
| San Francisco, CA | $131,050 | +31% | 2.3× |
Same job elsewhere in TN
| Metro | Median pay | vs Memphis | Rent vs Memphis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $99,860 | +0% | 1.2× |
| Knoxville, TN | $95,980 | −4% | 1.2× |
| Clarksville, TN | $94,610 | −6% | 0.9× |
| Kingsport, TN | $92,630 | −8% | 0.9× |
Staying in TN keeps state income tax and licensing the same, which makes these the most directly comparable moves.
Who hires physical therapists around Memphis
Large local employers in sectors that typically employ this role.
- Shelby County Schools · Education
- Methodist Le Bonheur · Healthcare
- Baptist Memorial · Healthcare
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital · Healthcare
Other jobs in Memphis
Source: US BLS OEWS (May 2023) median annual wage; cost of living from BEA; home price and rent from Zillow; household income from US Census ACS. Rankings are across the 186 metros we hold wage data for in this occupation. Estimates for guidance only. See methodology.