Erlanger Health System logo
Erlanger Health System
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Physical Therapist-Full-Time, Adult Outpatient Therapy

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 employed by Erlanger Health System, is responsible for direct and indirect care in the rehabilitation of the patient.

Diagnose and manage movement dysfunction and enhance physical and functional abilities.

Restore, maintain, and promote not only optimal physical function but optimal wellness and fitness and optimal quality of life as it relates to movement and health.

Prevent the onset, symptoms, and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from diseases, disorders, conditions, or injuries

Evaluates orthopedic patients in outpatient setting, plans, and administers patient treatments to relieve pain or improve function. Provides professional care in accordance with American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) standards and Tennessee State Board of Examiners scope of practice.

Education

Required

Bachelor's Degree in Physical Therapy.

Preferred

Masters or Doctorate Degree in Physical Therapy

Experience

Required

Knowledge of general physical therapy principles and practical skills

Preferred

At least 2-3 yrs of Outpatient Orthopaedic practice experience

Position Requirement(s): License/Certification/Registration

Required

Physical Therapist Tennessee licensure. BLS completed prior to going to unit/department and maintained going forward.

Preferred

Manual Therapy Skill Set / Certification

Department Position Summary

Provides physical therapy evaluations. Develops an individual plan of treatment for each patient. Provides age appropriate treatment. Participates in team meetings and discharge planning. Educates patients and their families in the patient's treatment program.

Directs Physical Therapist Assistants and Patient Care Technicians in patient treatments. Maintains accurate written reports. Maintains standards as set down by the American Physical Therapy Association regarding treatment procedures and professionals ethics. Participates in continuing education programs.

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

Evaluates orthopedic patients in outpatient setting, plans, and administers patient treatments to relieve pain or improve function. Provides professional care in accordance with American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) standards and Tennessee State Board of Examiners scope of practice.

Key Responsibilities

The physical therapist is responsible for evaluating orthopedic patients, developing individualized treatment plans, and administering care to improve physical function and relieve pain. They also educate patients and families, supervise support staff, and participate in departmental quality improvement and community education initiatives.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy and possess a valid Tennessee Physical Therapist license. A BLS certification is required, and 2-3 years of outpatient orthopedic experience is preferred.

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Orthopedic evaluationPatient treatment planningPatient educationClinical instructionDocumentationMovement dysfunction management

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.