Erlanger Health System logo
Erlanger Health System
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Physical Therapist Assista

Physical TherapistFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, call expectations and time off.

Posted 17m ago · Verified live

Job Description

A licensed physical therapist assistant employed by Erlanger Health System, is responsible for direct and indirect care in the rehabilitation of the patient.

Education

Required

Associate Degree in Physical Therapy Assistant Program.

Preferred

Experience

Required

Knowledge of general physical therapy principles and practical skills.

Preferred

Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration

Required

Physical Therapy Assistant licensure in Tennessee. BLS completed prior to going to unit/department and maintained going forward.

Preferred

Department Position Summary

Provides patient care treatments following the written treatment plan of the Physical Therapist. Teaches appropriate exercise programs, bed mobility, transfers. Provides appropriate wound care and debridement. Issues appropriate assistive devices when necessary. Participates in team meetings and discharge planning.

Educates patients and their families in the patient? s treatment program. Maintains accurate written reports. Maintains standards as set down by the American Physical Therapy Association regarding treatment procedures and professional ethics. Participates in continuing education programs.

Participates in community education. Acts as clinical instructor for PTA students. Participates in the Continuous Quality Improvement efforts of the department and the Medical Director.

Key Responsibilities

The Physical Therapist Assistant provides direct patient care treatments, including exercise programs, wound care, and the use of assistive devices. They also participate in team meetings, discharge planning, and educate patients and their families on treatment programs.

Requirements

Candidates must hold an Associate Degree in a Physical Therapy Assistant program and possess a valid Tennessee Physical Therapy Assistant license. A BLS certification is also required prior to starting in the department.

Key Skills

Clinical Instruction

Physical Therapist Career Context

Of the 50 active Physical Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 56% have no call, 58% require no weekends.

In Tennessee, the Physical Therapy weighted monthly median benchmark on WeekdayDoc is ~$85k (93 salary observations; 342 listings), vs ~$93k nationally (3,697 salary observations; 12,524 listings). Monthly aggregates cover 2026-01-01 through 2026-10-01; these are not the modal's selected comparable-job medians.

The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Physical Therapy pay on WeekdayDoc is down 1.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

Location & Logistics

Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Top Physical Therapist Jobs

45 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution44 jobs · 33 employers

17
<$105k
9
$105k-120k
4
$120k-135k
10
$135k-150k
4
$156k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks41 jobs · 33 employers

401k / retirement match
88%
CME allowance
85% this job
Sign-on bonus
56%
Loan repayment
34%
Relocation assistance
10%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Home Health Physical TherapistContract

Concierge Home Care · Tallahassee, Florida

$70-$75/hr
#2

Physical Therapist (PT) Acute Care TempForceContract

VUMC · Nashville, Tennessee

$75/hr
#3

Travel Physical Therapist

$75/hr
#4

Physical Therapist (PT)

$70-$75/hr
+ 43 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 4.8this job 3.0
Better work-life than 30% of Physical Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 22,587 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Chattanooga

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$327k
Typical market rent
$1,513/mo
Residents’ average commute
19 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.5
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Chattanooga, TN-GA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.