Physical Therapists in North Carolina. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Physical Therapist in North Carolina earned $96,670 in 2024, about 5.7% below the US median of $102,556. That gap is real but narrower than it looks once you account for what the money buys locally.
North Carolina's cost-of-living index sits at 95, meaning prices run roughly 5% below the national baseline. After adjusting for that, the in-state median comes out close to the national figure in practical purchasing power. A therapist earning $96,670 here covers roughly the same ground as one earning close to $101,700 in an average-cost state.
The pay range is worth a look. The 10th percentile starts at $72,850, and the 90th reaches $121,380. That's a spread of about $48,500 from the low end to the high. In round terms, top earners make close to 1.7 times what those at the bottom make. Some of that gap reflects experience, but it also reflects setting. PT pay tends to vary more across outpatient clinics, hospital systems, and home health than across regions within the state.
BLS projects employment for Physical Therapists to grow 10.9% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as faster than average. North Carolina's population growth and its above-average share of residents over 65 both point toward sustained demand, though the JSON doesn't break out state-level projections separately from the national figure.
The mean annual wage of $95,600 sits just below the median, which is slightly unusual. It means higher earners are not pulling the average up by much, and the pay structure is reasonably tight around the middle. Most therapists in the state are earning in a fairly compressed band.
Salary distribution
Where North Carolina physical therapists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $84,080 and $110,330, with a median of $99,910.
Physical Therapists in North Carolina: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 47 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $90,562. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 18 | $82,500 |
| Level II — qualified | 24 | $94,074 |
| Level III — experienced | 5 | $100,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physical Therapists in North Carolina. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amedisys Holding LLC | Physical Therapist | 7 | $118,000 |
| Humana Inc. | Physical Therapist | 6 | $91,354 |
| Grandison Management, Inc. | Physical Therapist | 5 | $67,683 |
| Broad River Rehabilitation, LLC | Physical Therapist | 4 | $97,760 |
| Rehab Employee Services, LLC | Physical Therapist | 4 | $85,000 |
| PT Network LLC | Physical Therapist | 3 | $90,000 |
| Alamance Operator LLC | Physical Therapists | 2 | $74,000 |
| SHG Therapy External, LLC | Physical Therapist | 2 | $95,680 |
| Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center | Physical Therapist | 2 | $90,318 |
| Adoration Health Management, LLC | Physical Therapist (Weekend Baylor) | 1 | $103,784 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Physical Therapist at Whitten Physical Therapy, LLC$86,121DurhamWage Level IDecided Feb 18, 2026I-200-26041-630150
- Rehab Director/Physical Therapist at Broad River Rehabilitation, LLC$100,277PinevilleWage Level IIIDecided Feb 13, 2026I-200-26038-626624
- Physical Therapy at Humana Inc.$100,422LUMBERTONWage Level IIDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-605669
- Physical Therapist at Grandison Management, Inc.$67,683NeboWage Level IDecided Jan 23, 2026I-200-26015-561702
- Physical Therapist at Grandison Management, Inc.$67,683BooneWage Level IDecided Jan 23, 2026I-200-26015-561696
- Physical Therapist at Amedisys Holding LLC$100,000Chapel HillWage Level IIDecided Jan 21, 2026I-200-26013-554938
- Physical Therapist at Powerback Rehabilitation, LLC$86,362GreensboroWage Level IDecided Jan 20, 2026I-200-26012-553417
- Physical Therapist at Broad River Rehabilitation, LLC$97,760MebaneWage Level IIIDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-502096
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
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Physical Therapists pay by experience level in North Carolina
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.
Physical Therapists specialties in North Carolina
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 42 certified offers. The most common variant is Physical Therapist at a median of $92,747.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist | Amedisys Holding LLC | 39 | $92,747 |
| Physical Therapists | Alamance Operator LLC | 3 | $74,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Physical Therapists in North Carolina, by industry
Median offered wage across 47 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $94,074.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Amedisys Holding LLC | 36 | $94,074 |
| Professional services | Humana Inc. | 11 | $82,451 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in North Carolina 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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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physical Therapists in North Carolina?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physical Therapists in North Carolina is $99,910.
- How does North Carolina compare to the national median for Physical Therapists?
- The North Carolina median is -4.4% versus the BLS national figure of $104,506.
- What is the salary range for Physical Therapists in North Carolina?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $78,020 and the 90th-percentile at $125,940, 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.