Premier PA Career Opportunities in the Volunteer State. This page is maintained by Blake Moser, founder of Advanced Practice Recruiters in Tyler, Texas. APR places physician assistants exclusively — surgical, primary care, hospitalist, EM, dermatology, orthopedic, and procedural specialties. Below is what you need to evaluate the Tennessee PA market: salary ranges, the supervision framework, where active hiring is concentrated, and how the search actually runs.
Tennessee has emerged as one of the most exciting healthcare markets in the South, particularly in Nashville — America's 'Healthcare Capital.' Nashville-based health systems, insurance companies, and healthcare businesses have made the city one of the most dynamic healthcare markets in the country, with exceptional PA career opportunities across every segment of the industry.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center anchors Nashville's academic medicine market, providing PA opportunities at the highest clinical level. Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis and strong regional systems throughout the state provide additional career paths for physician assistants seeking diverse practice environments.
Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, a significant financial benefit for PA practitioners. The state's low cost of living, vibrant music and food culture (Nashville, Memphis), beautiful mountains (Smokies), and warm Southern hospitality make Tennessee an increasingly desirable destination for PA professionals from across the nation.
PA base salaries in our Tennessee searches cluster around $118K, with most offers landing between $100K and $140K. Total compensation typically runs 10–25% above base once productivity bonuses, call pay, sign-on, relocation, CME, malpractice, and retirement match are included. Cost of living in Tennessee sits below national average — material for translating an offer into actual purchasing power.
The factors that move offers most: subspecialty (surgical first-assist, neurosurgery, cardiovascular, EM, dermatology, and orthopedic spine/sports run at the top end), post-certification experience, the supervision model described below, urban-versus-rural placement, employer model (academic system, private group, hospital employment, FQHC, telehealth), wRVU structure, call frequency, and any NCCPA Certificate of Added Qualification (CAQ).
Reference data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Physician Assistants (OOH) publishes the national mean wage and Tennessee state-area estimates; AAPA Compensation Resources and the NCCPA Statistical Profile track specialty and credentialing breakdowns.
Supervision model: Required Supervision. Tennessee requires direct physician supervision for physician assistants. PAs must maintain a written supervision agreement, may face a ratio cap per supervising physician, and may have additional limits on prescribing Schedule II–V controlled substances or signing certain orders. The hiring conversation usually centers on supervisor bandwidth, ratio room, and which procedures need cosignature.
Tennessee PAs are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. A supervising physician agreement is required. PAs can prescribe medications including controlled substances within their supervisory agreement. Tennessee has no state income tax on wages, providing meaningful financial benefit. NCCPA certification must be maintained.
The metros and regions where we are most often opening PA searches:
Recurring employer relationships in Tennessee include Vanderbilt University Medical Center, HCA Healthcare, Ascension St. Thomas, TriStar Health, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, Ballad Health, Erlanger Health System, plus a long tail of regional health systems, surgical and dermatology groups, orthopedic private practices, urgent-care networks, FQHCs, and telehealth platforms credentialed in Tennessee. Procedural and surgical PA roles tend to pay above the state average; rural and Critical Access roles often carry a sign-on or geographic premium.
Every search opens with a 20-minute call to nail down the role: scope, NCCPA certification + any CAQ, procedural case mix, supervision arrangement under Tennessee law, geographic flexibility within the state, and the realistic compensation envelope. From there we work the active and passive PA pool — verifying PA-C status with NCCPA, Tennessee licensure (or licensure-eligibility), DEA, malpractice history, and recent procedural logs for surgical or interventional roles — and present a screened shortlist within a few business days.
The engagement is contingent — no upfront fee and no exclusivity required. Permanent placements carry a written replacement guarantee covering the initial employment period; if the placed PA leaves inside the guarantee window we re-run the search at no additional fee.
Demand pressure in Tennessee is currently very high. Nationally, the BLS projects physician assistant employment to grow roughly 28% between 2023 and 2033 — far above the average for all occupations. Tennessee's no state income tax on wages, Nashville's dynamic healthcare industry, Vanderbilt's world-class medical center, and exceptional quality of life create outstanding PA career opportunities in one of the South's most exciting states.
Physician assistants in Tennessee earn an average salary of approximately $118,000 per year, with ranges between $100,000 and $140,000. Nashville positions, particularly at Vanderbilt and HCA facilities, offer the most competitive salaries. Tennessee's no state income tax on wages meaningfully increases take-home pay. The state's below-average cost of living further enhances PA purchasing power.
Nashville is home to the corporate headquarters of more major healthcare companies than any other city, including HCA Healthcare, Community Health Systems, Acadia Healthcare, and dozens of other health systems, management companies, and healthcare technology firms. This concentration creates an extensive and diverse PA job market beyond clinical roles, including positions in healthcare administration, quality management, and corporate health functions.
To practice in Tennessee, PAs must hold NCCPA certification, obtain licensure from the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, and establish a supervisory agreement with a licensed Tennessee physician. The agreement defines the PA's scope of practice and prescriptive authority. DEA registration is required for controlled substance prescribing. Continuing medical education must be completed for biennial renewal.
High-demand PA specialties in Tennessee include hospital medicine, emergency medicine, orthopedic surgery, cardiology, and family practice. Vanderbilt recruits specialty and subspecialty PAs across every academic medicine field. East Tennessee's Appalachian communities have significant primary care and addiction medicine PA needs. Rural Tennessee has ongoing demand for PAs across primary care, with loan repayment available in shortage areas.
Reach Blake Moser at Advanced Practice Recruiters: 469-457-4570 or blake@advancedpracticerecruiters.com. Most inquiries get a same-business-day reply.
Related: PA recruiting (national) · 2026 PA Salary Guide · PA supervision by state · NP recruiters in Tennessee