Physical Therapist Salary in Slidell, LA: $104,489 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Slidell, LA earns a median $104,489/year (≈ $50.24/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Slidell's price level (7% below national, BEA RPP 92.7), that paycheck buys what $112,686 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.1% above the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the median annual physical therapist salary in Slidell, Louisiana, is projected to be $104,489, slightly below the national median of $105,288. This salary is framed by a range that spans from $60,912 for the lowest earners to as high as $134,294 for those at the top end of the pay scale. These figures, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, indicate a robust environment for physical therapists, particularly in the realm of cash-pay models within outpatient orthopedic practices. Trends in this sector have led to increased earning potential for specialists who deliver high-quality care, especially given Slidell's growing demand for physical therapy services.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,912 | $29.28 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $82,777 | $39.80 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $104,489 | $50.24 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $109,089 | $52.45 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $134,294 | $64.57 |
Median Salary Position
0.76% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Slidell
In Slidell, LA, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $73,382 (2026 est.). At $104,489, the local median is 0.76% below the national median of $105,288.
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At 40 hours/week in Slidell: You'd be above the median
How Slidell Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Slidell median: $104,489/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Slidell Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $101,347 | +3.10% more |
| National Average | $105,288 | -0.76% less |
Physical Therapists in Slidell, LA earn a median of $104,489 per year (2026 est.), which is 0.76% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 3.10% above the Louisiana state average of $101,347.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Slidell has a cost of living 7.27% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Slidell, LA has a cost-of-living index of 92.726 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $104,489 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $112,686 in an average-cost city — an effective 7.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$88,761
2025 BLS Actual
$101,980
2026 Current Est.
$104,489
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Slidell (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,761 | Actual |
| 2020 | $90,319 | Actual |
| 2021 | $94,894 | Actual |
| 2022 | $96,978 | Actual |
| 2023 | $98,953 | Actual |
| 2024 | $100,550 | Actual |
| 2025 | $101,980 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $104,489 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $107,059 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Slidell metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $88,761 (2019) to $101,980 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $107,059 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,298 (20.61%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Slidell 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) | $60,912 – $82,777 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $82,777 – $104,489 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $104,489 – $109,089 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $109,089 – $134,294 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Slidell
Currently, the job market features around 230 physical therapists, indicating solid local employment opportunities. The cost of living in Slidell, with a comparative index of 92.726, suggests that therapists could enjoy more purchasing power relative to many other areas. Employers like outpatient orthopedic clinics, hospital inpatient rehab facilities, and sports medicine clinics offer varying pay rates, typically influenced by productivity expectations, board certifications like OCS or SCS, and practice models centered around cash-pay versus insurance. High performers who meet or exceed productivity benchmarks can see significant financial rewards. Thus, physical therapists in Slidell may maximize their earnings through strategic employment choices, advanced certifications, and by actively participating in the evolving landscape of healthcare reimbursement and patient care models.
More salary data for Slidell, LA:
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 $101,980 for physical therapistsin the Slidell 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, 2-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