Physical Therapist Salary in Cary, NC: $101,870 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Cary, NC earns a median $101,870/year (≈ $48.98/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Cary's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $108,835 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.5% below the North Carolina state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, physical therapists in Cary, North Carolina, can expect to earn a median annual salary of $101,870, which is slightly below the national median of $105,288. The salary range for this profession locally varies significantly, with entry-level positions starting at around $78,469 and top earners making as much as $138,170. These figures are derived from 2025 BLS data, adjusted for Cary’s regional price levels, giving a clear picture of the local job market. With the rise of cash-pay models in sports and orthopedic specialties, many top-tier practitioners are increasingly pushing the boundaries on compensation, often leading to higher pay opportunities for those involved in these cash-based services.
About the Cary Market
Salary estimated from North Carolina average ($93,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $78,469 | $37.73 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $86,562 | $41.62 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,870 | $48.98 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $118,980 | $57.20 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $138,170 | $66.42 |
Median Salary Position
3.25% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Cary
In Cary, NC, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $59,701 (2026 est.). At $101,870, the local median is 3.25% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Cary: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Cary Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Cary median: $101,870/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Cary Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $102,382 | -0.50% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -3.25% less |
Physical Therapists in Cary, NC earn a median of $101,870 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.25% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 0.50% below the North Carolina state average of $102,382.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Cary has a cost of living 6.40% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Cary, NC has a cost-of-living index of 93.6 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $101,870 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $108,835 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.84% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$86,536
2025 BLS Actual
$99,424
2026 Current Est.
$101,870
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Cary (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $86,536 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,055 | Actual |
| 2021 | $92,516 | Actual |
| 2022 | $94,548 | Actual |
| 2023 | $96,473 | Actual |
| 2024 | $87,500 | Actual |
| 2025 | $99,424 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,870 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $104,376 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Cary metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $86,536 (2019) to $99,424 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $104,376 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,840 (20.62%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Cary 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) | $78,469 – $86,562 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $86,562 – $101,870 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,870 – $118,980 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $118,980 – $138,170 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Cary
The fiscal health of Cary's job market supports around 44 physical therapy professionals, reflecting a solid demand for their services in a city with a cost of living index of 93.6, which is below the national average. This affordability helps boost some purchasing power for physical therapists. Among the highest-paying employers in Cary are outpatient orthopedic clinics like Athletico and ATI, which typically offer productivity bonuses, albeit with increased expectations for units per visit and daily encounters. In contrast, hospital systems may provide more stable, albeit sometimes lower, pay structures. If therapists aim to maximize their compensation in Cary, pursuing board specialty certifications such as OCS or SCS can be advantageous, along with targeting cash-pay practices that tend to offer better financial incentives compared to insurance-based reimbursement models.
More salary data for Cary, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Cary, NC in 2026?
Is Cary, NC a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Can physical therapists make $100K in Cary?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist salary in Cary?
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Related Pages
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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 $99,424 for physical therapistsin the Cary 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 Cary 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