Physical Therapists · North Carolina

Physical Therapists Salary in North Carolina

Physical Therapists in North Carolina earn a median annual wage of $99,910 —2.8% below the national median of $102,760. That ranks NC #33 of 51 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$99,910
Median hourly
$48.03
Entry level (P10)
$78,020
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$125,940
90th percentile
Employment
7,350
1.5 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
-2.8%
U.S. $102,760

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$78,020
$84,080
$99,910
$110,330
$78,020$99,910$125,940
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $99,910.

Employment concentration (0.86×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for physical therapists

All 51 states ranked by median annual wage. North Carolina is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1California$124,190$59.7126,5800.85
2Alaska$115,280$55.436801.22
3New Jersey$112,140$53.919,7501.32
4Nevada$111,250$53.482,0300.76
5Maryland$106,890$51.393,9400.83
6New Mexico$106,880$51.381,3300.89
7Washington$105,950$50.945,3700.88
8Texas$105,810$50.8721,8700.90
9Illinois$105,250$50.609,8000.93
10Connecticut$104,360$50.174,0601.39

Related occupations in North Carolina

Occupations in the same job family, compared within North Carolina.

OccupationNorth Carolina medianU.S. median
Registered Nurses$84,350$97,550
Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,270$64,400
Pharmacy Technicians$44,530$45,750
Physicians, All Other$260,330$265,930
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians$60,650$62,930
Nurse Practitioners$128,990$132,300

Frequently asked questions

How much do physical therapists make in North Carolina?

The median annual wage for physical therapists in North Carolina is $99,910, or $48.03 per hour. That is 2.8% below the national median of $102,760.

What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in North Carolina?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $78,020 per year ($37.51/hour). The 25th percentile is $84,080.

How many people work as physical therapists in North Carolina?

About 7,350 people work in this occupation in North Carolina, or 1.5 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is North Carolina a good state for physical therapists?

North Carolina ranks #33 of 51 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.86x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays physical therapists the most?

California has the highest median wage at $124,190 per year, followed by Alaska ($115,280) and New Jersey ($112,140).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes