Physical Therapist Salary in Ames, IA: $92,839 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Ames, IA earns a median $92,839/year (≈ $44.63/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Ames's price level (11% below national, BEA RPP 88.8), that paycheck buys what $104,513 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 7.1% below the Iowa state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $92,839 in 2026, physical therapists working in Ames, IA, find themselves in a competitive market, albeit one that offers lower compensation relative to the national median of $105,288. The salary range for physical therapists spans from $69,191 at the 10th percentile to $122,839 at the 90th percentile, offering a broad spectrum for professionals depending on their experience, specialization, and work setting. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, this salary landscape suggests that those employed in outpatient orthopedic clinics, which often prioritize productivity, may see slightly lower average salaries compared to hospital-based therapists. This structural variation can significantly affect compensation expectations, making it essential for local practitioners to understand how employer choice influences their earning potential.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $69,191 | $33.27 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $77,040 | $37.04 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $92,839 | $44.63 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $103,741 | $49.88 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $122,839 | $59.06 |
Median Salary Position
11.82% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Ames
In Ames, IA, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $53,648 (2026 est.). At $92,839, the local median is 11.82% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Ames: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Ames Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Ames median: $92,839/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Ames Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Iowa Average | $99,934 | -7.10% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -11.82% less |
Physical Therapists in Ames, IA earn a median of $92,839 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.82% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 7.10% below the Iowa state average of $99,934.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Ames has a cost of living 11.17% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Ames, IA has a cost-of-living index of 88.83 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $92,839 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,513 in an average-cost city — an effective 12.57% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$107,260
2025 BLS Actual
$90,610
2026 Current Est.
$92,839
2019–2027 Growth
+-11.3%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Ames (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $107,260 | Actual |
| 2020 | $94,910 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,630 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,790 | Actual |
| 2023 | $83,380 | Actual |
| 2024 | $86,440 | Actual |
| 2025 | $90,610 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $92,839 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $95,123 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Ames metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew -15.5% from $107,260 (2019) to $90,610 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $95,123 by 2027 — a total increase of $-12,137 (-11.32%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Ames 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) | $69,191 – $77,040 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $77,040 – $92,839 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $92,839 – $103,741 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $103,741 – $122,839 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Ames
In Ames, approximately 70 physical therapists are currently employed, creating a localized yet stable job market characterized by a cost-of-living index of 88.83, which is below the national average. This lower cost of living facilitates an improved purchasing power for physical therapist pay in Ames, IA, despite it lagging behind national averages. Typically, outpatient practices or sports medicine clinics may offer higher pay structures that incorporate productivity-based incentives and bonuses compared to skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies, which tend to provide steadier but often lower compensation. Factors driving pay variability include board-certified specializations like OCS or SCS, productivity models requiring a specified number of visits per day, and potential equity stakes in private practices. For physical therapists aiming to maximize their earnings in Ames, focusing on clinical settings that balance robust patient caseloads with quality care, while also considering supplemental certifications, can prove advantageous in the current market.
More salary data for Ames, IA:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Career Resources
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 $90,610 for physical therapistsin the Ames 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