TN · Smyrna · Updated October 15, 2026

Physician Assistant jobs in Smyrna, TN

Pay for physician assistants in the Smyrna area centers on $59.62 per hour, or about $124,010 a year. The lower quarter earns under $51.44 and the upper quarter over $62.13. The CMS hospital directory lists 1 hospital in Smyrna. That ranks 238th of 329 U.S. metro areas for physician assistant pay, and 225th of 301 once local prices are factored in. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Smyrna.

Open Physician Assistant roles near Smyrna

Roles in other cities of the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin area.

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Physician Assistant pay in Smyrna, TN

The metro median is 9% above the Tennessee statewide median of $54.80 per hour. Nationally the median is $64.07 per hour. BLS counts about 810 physician assistants employed in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro area, 0.7 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.73).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$47.88$99,59025% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$51.44$107,00020% below U.S. median
Median$59.62$124,0107% below U.S. median
Upper quartile$62.13$129,2303% below U.S. median
Top 10%$71.75$149,24012% above U.S. median

How Smyrna ranks

  • 238th of 329 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 225th of 301 after adjusting for local prices
  • 3rd of 9 Tennessee metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physician Assistants (SOC 29-1071), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Smyrna

  • Overall prices in Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin run 4% below the U.S. average (index 96.3, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 5% above the U.S. average (index 104.6).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $59.62 median hour buys what $61.89 buys at the national price level, 3% below the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Smyrna paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$2,146
  • Per year: $107,316
  • Per month: $8,943
  • Tennessee has no state income tax on wages.

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Smyrna

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$130
Meals and incidentals per day$86
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,512
13-week assignment$19,656

Travel physician assistant assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free. Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Smyrna

CMS lists 1 hospital in Smyrna, 1 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physician assistants.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Tristar Stonecrest Medical Center
Smyrna, TN
Acute careFor-profit4 of 5Yes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Primary care shortage areas in Rutherford County

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Rutherford County (1 population-group, 1 facility). The highest-scoring one rates 18 on a 0 to 25 scale, where a higher score means a greater shortage.

Shortage areas are where demand for nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other clinicians is greatest. Federal loan repayment programs such as the NHSC and Nurse Corps cover some clinicians who work at eligible shortage-area sites. Eligibility is set by each program and by the site, so ask your recruiter before you plan around it.

Source: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas data warehouse, designated areas only. A designation can cover part of a county.

Physician Assistant pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Murfreesboro, TN10 mi$59.62/hr168,387
Franklin, TN18 mi$59.62/hr89,142
Clarksville, TN61 mi$54.00/hr185,690
Bowling Green, KY70 mi$53.03/hr79,076
Madison, AL88 mi$51.10/hr64,029
Huntsville, AL88 mi$51.10/hr230,402

Physician Assistant jobs in Tennessee · Physician Assistant jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Tennessee

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Tennessee does not tax wage income at the state level, so take-home pay is higher than the same gross pay in a state that does.

Tennessee state guide

Other healthcare roles in Smyrna

Smyrna city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physician assistants make in Smyrna, TN?

Physician Assistants in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin metro area have a median pay of $59.62 per hour, about $124,010 a year. The middle half earn between $51.44 and $62.13 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Smyrna a good place for physician assistants once cost of living is counted?

Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin ranks 225th of 301 metro areas for physician assistant pay after adjusting for local prices, and 238th of 329 before adjusting. Overall prices run 4% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physician assistants in Smyrna?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Smyrna.

Do I need a Tennessee license to work in Smyrna as a physician assistant?

Master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Tennessee requires for your role with the Tennessee licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Is Smyrna in a shortage area?

HRSA lists 2 active primary care shortage designations that include Rutherford County. Shortage areas often have more openings, and some loan repayment programs cover clinicians who work at eligible sites.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Smyrna?

The federal per diem benchmark in Smyrna is $130 a night for lodging and $86 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,512 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physician assistants in Smyrna?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Smyrna and across Tennessee. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Smyrna.

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What do employers near Smyrna pay physician assistants? Get the report.

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Pay report · PA near Smyrna, TN
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PA pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Tennessee list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • UT Medical Group, Inc.Memphis, TN · 1 wage offer$57.52/ hr$58–$58
  • BrightSpring Health ServicesGREENEVILLE, TN · 2 postings$46.39/ hr$32–$58
  • Stanford Children's HealthPALO ALTO, CA · 4 postings$104.30/ hr$94–$115
  • Valley Children's HealthcareMadera, CA · 3 postings$103.69/ hr$75–$123

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Tennessee list

2What they are offering now

Low$49Median$70.67High$89

426 PA postings with published pay in the US, 356 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 2 PA roles

  1. Nurse Practitioner - Physician AssistantPermanent
    $66k–$100k/ year
    BrightSpring Health Services · Greeneville, TN · posted 3 days ago
  2. Nurse Practitioner - Physician AssistantPermanent
    $100k–$120k/ year
    BrightSpring Health Services · Nashville, TN · posted 6 days ago

Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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