Physical Therapist Salary in Fayetteville, NC: $102,583 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Fayetteville, NC earns a median $102,583/year (≈ $49.31/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $111,530 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Fayetteville, North Carolina, the projected 2026 median annual salary for physical therapists is $102,583, slightly below the national average of $105,288. This figure highlights a range of compensation that extends from $77,982 at the lower tenth percentile to $124,622 at the ninety percentile, reflecting the influence of specialization and practice models. Results derived from 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, indicate that the cash-pay trend among sports and orthopedic clinics is beginning to reshape the compensation landscape, particularly for those positioned to attract high-end clients. With the local job market employing roughly 220 physical therapists, Fayetteville presents varying opportunities that can impact salary expectations, depending on practice type and productivity demands.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $77,982 | $37.49 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $85,011 | $40.87 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $102,583 | $49.31 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $113,362 | $54.50 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $124,622 | $59.91 |
Median Salary Position
2.57% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, NC, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $46,640 (2026 est.). At $102,583, the local median is 2.57% below the national median of $105,288.
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At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be above the median
How Fayetteville Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $102,583/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $102,378 | +0.20% more |
| National Average | $105,288 | -2.57% less |
Physical Therapists in Fayetteville, NC earn a median of $102,583 per year (2026 est.), which is 2.57% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 0.20% above the North Carolina state average of $102,378.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.02% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 91.978 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $102,583 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $111,530 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$86,360
2025 BLS Actual
$100,120
2026 Current Est.
$102,583
2019–2027 Growth
+21.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $86,360 | Actual |
| 2020 | $88,070 | Actual |
| 2021 | $79,660 | Actual |
| 2022 | $85,550 | Actual |
| 2023 | $94,990 | Actual |
| 2024 | $100,450 | Actual |
| 2025 | $100,120 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $102,583 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $105,106 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 15.9% from $86,360 (2019) to $100,120 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $105,106 by 2027 — a total increase of $18,746 (21.71%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville 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) | $77,982 – $85,011 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $85,011 – $102,583 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $102,583 – $113,362 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $113,362 – $124,622 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Fayetteville
Delving deeper into the local job market, the cost-of-living index in Fayetteville stands at 91.978, suggesting that physical therapist pay in Fayetteville NC allows for a comfortable lifestyle despite the comparatively lower salary than national averages. Outpatient orthopedic clinics, particularly larger chains such as ATI and Athletico, typically offer competitive pay structures with opportunities for bonuses based on productivity metrics, while hospital systems may offer more stable salaries with benefits. The variance in salaries often relates to factors like productivity benchmarks, board certification stipends, clinic ownership equity, and whether a therapist operates under a cash-pay or insurance model. To maximize income potential, it’s beneficial for therapists to pursue advanced certifications like the OCS or SCS, thrive in high-volume settings, or consider travel PT assignments, which may command premium rates.
More salary data for Fayetteville, NC:
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 $100,120 for physical therapistsin the Fayetteville 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