Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in Louisiana is $98,530/year ($47.37/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $128K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.28), which stretches that salary to about $112,890 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,191/month, or 19.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Louisiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in Louisiana?
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What this looks like in Louisiana
Physical therapists pay in Louisiana tracks closely to the national median, $99K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 4% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,191/month, 19.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.28 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 13% 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, Louisiana
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $128K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in Louisiana
10 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandria | $103K | +5% | 160 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington | $102K | +4% | 230 |
| New Orleans-Metairie | $101K | +2% | 710 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City | $100K | +2% | 280 |
| Hammond | $99K | +0% | 130 |
| Baton Rouge | $99K | +0% | 590 |
| Monroe | $96K | -2% | 170 |
| Lake Charles | $89K | -10% | 140 |
| Lafayette | $84K | -14% | 290 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux | $78K | -21% | 180 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Louisiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 19.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,191/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in Louisiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,609/month. At HUD’s $1,191/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in Louisiana?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $99K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Louisiana compare to the national average for physical therapists?
Louisiana pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.28), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in Louisiana?
The median is $98,530 a year, that works out to about $47 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,150, and experienced physical therapists can clear $127,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Louisiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,175/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,191/month, which eats 19.3% 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 Louisiana?
Louisiana has a Regional Price Parity of 87.28 (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 $112,890 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.