Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in North Carolina is $99,910/year ($48.03/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $126K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $107,824 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 19.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $100K get you in North Carolina?
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Physical therapists pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $100K locally vs. $103K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 20.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% 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, North Carolina
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $100K. Top earners bring in $126K or more, a $48K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in North Carolina
15 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mount | $103K | +3% | 80 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton | $102K | +2% | 160 |
| Winston-Salem | $101K | +1% | 510 |
| Burlington | $101K | +1% | 100 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $101K | +1% | 1,680 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill | $100K | +0% | 790 |
| Fayetteville | $100K | +0% | 220 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $100K | -0% | 1,190 |
| Asheville | $99K | -0% | 300 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $99K | -1% | 540 |
| Wilmington | $99K | -1% | 460 |
| Greenville | $98K | -2% | 190 |
| Jacksonville | $95K | -5% | 80 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines | $94K | -6% | 100 |
| Goldsboro | $89K | -11% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 15 metros
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Track physical therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $100K, rent takes 20.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,681/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $100K locally vs. $103K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for physical therapists?
North Carolina pays $100K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in North Carolina?
The median is $99,910 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,020, and experienced physical therapists can clear $125,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $100K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,181/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 20.8% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $107,824 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.