Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Alabama is $97,290/year ($46.77/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $134K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.36), which stretches that salary to about $110,106 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,085/month, or 17.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Alabama. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $97K get you in Alabama?
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What this looks like in Alabama
Physical therapists pay in Alabama tracks closely to the national median, $97K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,085/month, 18.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.36 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Alabama
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $97K. Top earners bring in $134K or more, a $59K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Alabama
12 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden | $107K | +10% | 100 |
| Tuscaloosa | $106K | +9% | 120 |
| Huntsville | $100K | +3% | 320 |
| Anniston-Oxford | $99K | +1% | 50 |
| Birmingham | $98K | +0% | 1,030 |
| Decatur | $98K | +0% | 50 |
| Montgomery | $96K | -1% | 170 |
| Dothan | $95K | -2% | 120 |
| Mobile | $94K | -3% | 240 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | $94K | -3% | 90 |
| Auburn-Opelika | $86K | -11% | 110 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals | $85K | -13% | 70 |
Showing 1–10 of 12 metros
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Alabama numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Alabama?
Yes — at the median salary of $97K, rent takes 18.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,085/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Alabama?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,486/month. At HUD’s $1,085/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Alabama?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $97K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Alabama compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Alabama pays $97K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.36), the purchasing-power equivalent is $110K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Alabama?
The median is $97,290 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,770, and experienced physical therapists can clear $133,710. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $97K enough to live in Alabama?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,011/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,085/month, which eats 18.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical therapists salary go in Alabama?
Alabama has a Regional Price Parity of 88.36 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical therapists salary is worth about $110,106 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical therapists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.