Physical Therapist Salary in Bowling Green, KY: $93,843 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Bowling Green, KY earns a median $93,843/year (≈ $45.11/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Bowling Green's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.2), that paycheck buys what $104,063 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.6% below the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the average physical therapist salary in Bowling Green is projected to be $93,843, offering a competitive compensation when compared to the national median of $105,288. The salary range for physical therapists in this area extends from $75,718 at the 10th percentile to as high as $120,688 at the 90th percentile, providing diverse earning potential. This data is based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. Practitioners in outpatient settings, such as orthopedic clinics, may find themselves at the lower end of that spectrum due to pay structures influenced by productivity and bonus expectations. In contrast, those employed by hospitals or skilled nursing facilities generally enjoy more stable salaries and potentially better benefits, highlighting the differing economic realities within the local job market.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $75,718 | $36.40 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,247 | $38.59 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $93,843 | $45.11 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $103,628 | $49.83 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $120,688 | $58.02 |
Median Salary Position
10.87% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bowling Green
In Bowling Green, KY, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,970 (2026 est.). At $93,843, the local median is 10.87% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Bowling Green: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Bowling Green Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Bowling Green median: $93,843/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bowling Green Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $99,410 | -5.60% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -10.87% less |
Physical Therapists in Bowling Green, KY earn a median of $93,843 per year (2026 est.), which is 10.87% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 5.60% below the Kentucky state average of $99,410.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bowling Green has a cost of living 9.82% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bowling Green, KY has a cost-of-living index of 90.179 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $93,843 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,063 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.89% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$91,040
2025 BLS Actual
$91,590
2026 Current Est.
$93,843
2019–2027 Growth
+5.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Bowling Green (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $91,040 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,310 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,520 | Actual |
| 2022 | $83,060 | Actual |
| 2023 | $88,640 | Actual |
| 2024 | $97,500 | Actual |
| 2025 | $91,590 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $93,843 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $96,152 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bowling Green metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 0.6% from $91,040 (2019) to $91,590 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $96,152 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,112 (5.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bowling Green 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) | $75,718 – $80,247 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,247 – $93,843 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $93,843 – $103,628 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $103,628 – $120,688 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Bowling Green
The job market for physical therapists in Bowling Green shows robust employment, with approximately 220 professionals working in the area. The cost of living index stands at 90.179, which is below the national average, suggesting that take-home pay stretches further here compared to other regions. Among the employers, physical therapist pay in Bowling Green KY tends to peak in hospital settings or specialty practices that require board certifications, such as the OCS or SCS, which often come with additional stipends. Factors contributing to the salary range include expected productivity metrics, such as units per visit and visits per day, as well as differences in practice models—those in cash-pay environments typically see higher earnings compared to their insurance-practice counterparts. For practitioners aiming to maximize their income, targeting positions that capitalize on specialization and seeking opportunities for ownership in clinics can prove advantageous in this competitive market.
More salary data for Bowling Green, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Bowling Green, KY in 2026?
Is Bowling Green, KY a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Can physical therapists make $100K in Bowling Green?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist salary in Bowling Green?
How much does a physical therapist make per hour in Bowling Green?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
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 $91,590 for physical therapistsin the Bowling Green 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