Physical Therapist Salary in Wilmington, NC: $101,200 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Wilmington, NC earns a median $101,200/year (≈ $48.66/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Wilmington's price level (4% below national, BEA RPP 96.4), that paycheck buys what $104,955 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 1.1% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
The projected physical therapist salary in Wilmington, NC, for 2026 stands at $101,200, reflecting the variability across different employment settings such as outpatient clinics, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. The salary range for this profession in the region stretches from $77,327 at the 10th percentile to $124,561 at the 90th percentile. Derived from the official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, these figures highlight the balance between competitive pay and the diverse options available for physical therapists in Wilmington. It's essential to consider how these differing structural choices may influence earning potential in a job market shaped by the performance and profitability of various healthcare establishments.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $77,327 | $37.17 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $82,931 | $39.88 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $101,200 | $48.66 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $109,294 | $52.54 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $124,561 | $59.89 |
Median Salary Position
3.88% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Wilmington
In Wilmington, NC, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,234 (2026 est.). At $101,200, the local median is 3.88% below the national median of $105,288.
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At 40 hours/week in Wilmington: You'd be above the median
How Wilmington Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Wilmington median: $101,200/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Wilmington Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $102,325 | -1.10% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -3.88% less |
Physical Therapists in Wilmington, NC earn a median of $101,200 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.88% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 1.10% below the North Carolina state average of $102,325.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Wilmington has a cost of living 3.58% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Wilmington, NC has a cost-of-living index of 96.422 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $101,200 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $104,955 in an average-cost city — an effective 3.71% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$88,610
2025 BLS Actual
$98,770
2026 Current Est.
$101,200
2019–2027 Growth
+17.0%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Wilmington (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $88,610 | Actual |
| 2020 | $82,180 | Actual |
| 2021 | $77,340 | Actual |
| 2022 | $81,220 | Actual |
| 2023 | $88,510 | Actual |
| 2024 | $84,800 | Actual |
| 2025 | $98,770 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $101,200 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $103,689 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Wilmington metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 11.5% from $88,610 (2019) to $98,770 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $103,689 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,079 (17.02%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Wilmington 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) | $77,327 – $82,931 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $82,931 – $101,200 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $101,200 – $109,294 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $109,294 – $124,561 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Wilmington
Wilmington's job market supports approximately 460 physical therapists, establishing a solid local demand against the backdrop of a cost-of-living index of 96.422, which is below the national average. This lower cost of living can enhance take-home pay, allowing physical therapists to enjoy a relatively higher standard of living than might be expected from their salaries alone. Employers such as outpatient orthopedic clinics, including chains like ATI and Athletico, often pay less than hospitals but offer productivity bonuses to increase compensation. The disparity in pay can be attributed to several factors, including productivity expectations, the potential for stipends awarded for board certifications like OCS or SCS, and the practice model employed (cash-pay versus insurance). In this competitive environment, physical therapists in Wilmington can maximize their pay by actively pursuing specialization credentials, considering roles in travel therapy, and aligning themselves with practices that prioritize higher reimbursement rates through efficient productivity models.
More salary data for Wilmington, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Wilmington, NC in 2026?
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Can physical therapists make $100K in Wilmington?
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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 $98,770 for physical therapistsin the Wilmington 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