Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Kentucky is $100,710/year ($48.42/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $74K at the entry level to $127K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $111,615 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 17.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $101K get you in Kentucky?
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Physical therapists pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $101K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 17.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Kentucky
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $74K. Mid-career wages sit at $101K. Top earners bring in $127K or more, a $53K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Kentucky
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | $104K | +4% | 80 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $102K | +2% | 1,140 |
| Paducah | $99K | -1% | 80 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $95K | -6% | 590 |
| Bowling Green | $92K | -9% | 220 |
| Owensboro | $83K | -17% | 90 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $101K, rent takes 17.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $74K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,434/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $101K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Kentucky pays $101K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Kentucky?
The median is $100,710 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,900, and experienced physical therapists can clear $126,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $101K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,267/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 17.7% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $111,615 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.