Physical Therapist Salary in Auburn, AL: $88,239 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Auburn, AL earns a median $88,239/year (≈ $42.42/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Auburn's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 87.9), that paycheck buys what $100,348 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 11.2% below the Alabama state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Auburn, Alabama, the 2026 median annual salary for physical therapists is projected to be $88,239, indicating a competitive earning potential within the local market. The salary range spans from $60,154 at the 10th percentile to $127,716 at the 90th percentile, reflecting the variations in experience, specialization, and practice settings. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys, illustrates how Auburn's growing emphasis on cash-pay sports and orthopedic specialties could lead to significantly higher compensation for experienced therapists, particularly those looking to establish their practices or working in boutique settings. As the demand for physical therapy services continues to grow, especially in athletic and rehabilitative contexts, opportunities for enhanced earnings are likely to expand.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,154 | $28.92 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $77,962 | $37.48 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $88,239 | $42.42 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $103,218 | $49.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $127,716 | $61.40 |
Median Salary Position
16.19% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Auburn
In Auburn, AL, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,562 (2026 est.). At $88,239, the local median is 16.19% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Auburn: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Auburn Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Auburn median: $88,239/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Auburn Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Average | $99,368 | -11.20% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -16.19% less |
Physical Therapists in Auburn, AL earn a median of $88,239 per year (2026 est.), which is 16.19% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 11.20% below the Alabama state average of $99,368.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Auburn has a cost of living 12.07% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Auburn, AL has a cost-of-living index of 87.933 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $88,239 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $100,348 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$93,640
2025 BLS Actual
$86,120
2026 Current Est.
$88,239
2019–2027 Growth
+-3.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Auburn (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $93,640 | Actual |
| 2020 | $91,210 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,680 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,380 | Actual |
| 2023 | $85,040 | Actual |
| 2024 | $93,200 | Actual |
| 2025 | $86,120 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $88,239 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $90,409 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Auburn metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew -8.0% from $93,640 (2019) to $86,120 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $90,409 by 2027 — a total increase of $-3,231 (-3.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Auburn metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 2.46% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $60,154 – $77,962 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $77,962 – $88,239 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $88,239 – $103,218 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $103,218 – $127,716 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Auburn
The employment landscape for physical therapists in Auburn comprises about 110 professionals, revealing a stable job market characterized by increasing demand. With a cost of living index of 87.933, the purchasing power for therapists in this area is favorable compared to many other regions in the U.S. Top-paying employers typically include outpatient orthopedic clinics like ATI and Athletico, which, despite offering slightly lower base salaries than hospitals, can provide productivity bonuses and other incentives. The variation in pay often hinges on factors such as productivity expectations, the type of practice model (cash-pay versus insurance), and specialized certifications like OCS or SCS, which can attract stipends. For those looking to maximize physical therapist pay in Auburn, focusing on productivity benchmarks and pursuing board certifications could enhance earning potential as the trend shifts towards performance-based compensation in this rapidly evolving field.
More salary data for Auburn, AL:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Alex Morgan, DPT
Career Analyst
Alex Morgan has over 10 years of experience in physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Alex works in a private practice setting.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $86,120 for physical therapistsin the Auburn metropolitan area. A 2.46% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 7-year dataset (–). Per-city data from annual BLS metropolitan area surveys.
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.46%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapists (SOC 29-1123).
Compiled and verified by Alex Morgan, DPT, a licensed physical therapist with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov