Physical Therapists in Alabama. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
Physical Therapists in Alabama earned a median annual wage of $97,040 in 2024, about 5.4% below the US median of $102,556. That gap is smaller than you might expect for a state with one of the lower costs of living in the country.
Alabama's cost-of-living index sits at 87.3, meaning everyday expenses run roughly 13% below the national baseline. Adjust for that and the Alabama median translates to around $111,200 in national-baseline dollars. On a purchasing-power basis, physical therapists here come out ahead of peers in higher-cost states with nominally similar wages.
The pay range is wide. The bottom 10% earned $68,030 in 2024 and the top 10% earned $128,810. That $60,780 gap reflects how much experience and setting matter in this occupation. A new graduate working in a rural outpatient clinic and a senior PT in a hospital system both carry the same license but land at very different points on that range.
BLS projects employment in this occupation to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as faster than average. About 2,750 physical therapists were employed in Alabama in 2024, a relatively small base, so even moderate growth in absolute terms adds up to a meaningful share of new positions.
Salary distribution
Where Alabama physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $81,850 and $115,210, with a median of $97,290.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in Alabama
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Alabama over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.6 / 5
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge
- 4.6 / 5
Medicine and Dentistry
Knowledge
- 4.1 / 5
Psychology
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 4.0 / 5
Critical Thinking
Cross-functional
- 4.0 / 5
Social Perceptiveness
Technical
- 4.0 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- 02
Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- 03
Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- 04
Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- 05
Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- 06
Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- 07
Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- 08
Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+10.9%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Alabama
Metro-level salary data for physical therapists in major Alabama metropolitan areas.
- Birmingham$97,750
Compare Physical Therapists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Alabama with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in Alabama?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in Alabama is $97,290.
- How does Alabama compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The Alabama median is -6.9% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in Alabama?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $74,770 and the 90th-percentile at $133,710, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physical Therapists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 10.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Physical Therapists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.