Physical Therapists Salary
The median pay for a physical therapists in North Dakota is $85,330/year ($41.02/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $114K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $95,995 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 18.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $85K get you in North Dakota?
About physical therapists
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Pay for physical therapists in North Dakota runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $103K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 18.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, North Dakota can be a reasonable trade-off for physical therapistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Dakota
Entry-level physical therapists (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $114K or more, a $38K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Therapists salary by metro in North Dakota
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Forks | $89K | +4% | 100 |
| Fargo | $85K | +0% | 350 |
| Bismarck | $83K | -2% | 200 |
| Minot | $78K | -8% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track physical therapists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical therapist afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 18.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical therapists in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical therapists typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,517/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physical therapist a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $85K here vs. $103K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for physical therapists?
North Dakota pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $96K — below the national median.
How much do physical therapists make in North Dakota?
The median is $85,330 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $75,290, and experienced physical therapists can clear $113,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,563/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 18.6% 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 Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $95,995 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.