Physical Therapist Salary in Kearney, NE: $92,771 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Kearney, NE earns a median $92,771/year (≈ $44.60/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Kearney's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.5), that paycheck buys what $101,389 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.7% below the Nebraska state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
Physical therapy positions in Kearney, NE, are estimated to offer a median annual salary of $92,771 in 2026, reflecting a competitive landscape compared to the national median of $105,288. Salary expectations range significantly, from $74,470 at the lower end to $119,445 at the top, suggesting robust earning potential for skilled practitioners. These numbers, drawn from state-level data and adjusted for regional price parities, indicate that physical therapists in Kearney generally earn less than their counterparts nationally, with a variance of nearly 12%. Factors like employment settings—outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals—often dictate pay differentials, as outpatient chains may offer lower salaries coupled with performance bonuses while hospitals tend to provide more stable compensation.
About the Kearney Market
Salary estimated from Nebraska average ($88,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $74,470 | $35.80 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,539 | $38.72 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $92,771 | $44.60 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $108,804 | $52.31 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $119,445 | $57.43 |
Median Salary Position
11.89% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Kearney
In Kearney, NE, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $44,975 (2026 est.). At $92,771, the local median is 11.89% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Kearney: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Kearney Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Kearney median: $92,771/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Kearney Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska Average | $96,336 | -3.70% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -11.89% less |
Physical Therapists in Kearney, NE earn a median of $92,771 per year (2026 est.), which is 11.89% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 3.70% below the Nebraska state average of $96,336.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Kearney has a cost of living 8.50% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Kearney, NE has a cost-of-living index of 91.5 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $92,771 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $101,389 in an average-cost city — an effective 9.29% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,807
2025 BLS Actual
$90,544
2026 Current Est.
$92,771
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Kearney (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,807 | Actual |
| 2020 | $80,191 | Actual |
| 2021 | $84,253 | Actual |
| 2022 | $86,103 | Actual |
| 2023 | $87,857 | Actual |
| 2024 | $77,539 | Actual |
| 2025 | $90,544 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $92,771 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $95,054 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Kearney metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $78,807 (2019) to $90,544 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $95,054 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,247 (20.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Kearney 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) | $74,470 – $80,539 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,539 – $92,771 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $92,771 – $108,804 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $108,804 – $119,445 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Kearney
Turning to the local job market, Kearney currently employs nine physical therapists, suggesting a tight-knit community that may offer networking advantages but also a limited number of opportunities. With a cost of living index at 91.5, the purchasing power of salaries in Kearney is relatively strong, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle despite somewhat lower salary figures compared to national averages. Among employers, outpatient orthopedic clinics like Athletico and ATI may offer competitive pay, but hospital systems often edge ahead when it comes to overall compensation packages. The disparity in earnings can largely be attributed to productivity expectations, such as required units per visit, and additional incentives for board certifications like OCS or SCS. For those aiming to maximize their physical therapist pay in Kearney, exploring positions in home health or sports medicine clinics may offer higher returns, especially for those willing to navigate the cash-pay versus insurance practice model.
More salary data for Kearney, NE:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Kearney, NE in 2026?
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Can physical therapists make $100K in Kearney?
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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 $90,544 for physical therapistsin the Kearney 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
Salary data for Kearney is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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