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Physical therapist assistant salary in North Carolina
- $56,100lowest 10% earn less
- $62,31025th percentile
- $67,540median
- $76,52075th percentile
- $80,850top 10% earn more
The median pay for physical therapist assistants in North Carolina was $67,540 a year in May 2025[1]. That was 1.2% lower than the US median[6].
How much do physical therapist assistants make in North Carolina?
Physical therapist assistants in North Carolina had a median wage of $67,540 a year, or $32.47 an hour[1]. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. The average was a little higher, at $68,790 a year[7]. The US median was $68,380, so North Carolina sat $840 below it[3][6]. Across all jobs in the state, the median was $47,970, which puts this job $19,570 above it[8][9].
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $56,100, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $80,850[2]. The middle half of workers earned between $62,310 and $76,520[2]. North Carolina ranked 18th for median pay among the 50 states and DC[5].
By metro area, Burlington had the highest median at $76,010[10]. Among the larger metros listed, Wilmington reached $75,820 and Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia reached $70,720[11]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses and the cost of benefits like health insurance[12].
North Carolina vs US pay
Pay for physical therapist assistants in North Carolina next to the national figures[1][3].
Pay by metro area in North Carolina
Metro areas in North Carolina with the most jobs for physical therapist assistants, and the median pay in each[11]. A metro area that crosses state lines is counted as a whole.
| Metro area | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC[11] | $70,720 | 870 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $73,300 | 790 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $67,890 | 390 |
| Wilmington, NC | $75,820 | 220 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $64,610 | 190 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $64,660 | 180 |
| Asheville, NC | $63,860 | 140 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | $63,800 | 140 |
Pay in nearby states
Median pay for physical therapist assistants in the states that border North Carolina, highest first[14].
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia[14] | $73,760 | 3,370 |
| Georgia | $72,800 | 2,620 |
| South Carolina | $70,500 | 1,870 |
| Tennessee | $62,500 | 3,390 |
Job outlook and training
Across the US, jobs for physical therapist assistants are projected to grow 23% from 2025 to 2035[15]. BLS does not publish this projection by state. The typical education for entry is: associate's degree[16].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a physical therapist assistant make in North Carolina?
- The median was $67,540 a year in May 2025[1]. The average was $68,790 a year[7].
- How much does a physical therapist assistant make an hour in North Carolina?
- The median was $32.47 an hour[1]. The 10th percentile was $26.97 an hour and the 90th percentile was $38.87[17].
- Which city in North Carolina pays physical therapist assistants the most?
- Burlington had the highest median among the metro areas with a published figure, at $76,010 a year[10]. Wilmington followed among the larger metros at $75,820[11].
- Is North Carolina a good state for physical therapist assistants?
- North Carolina had the 18th highest median pay for this job among the 50 states and DC[5]. Its median was 1.2% lower than the US median[6].
- What do you need to become a physical therapist assistant in North Carolina?
- Across the US, the typical entry education is an associate's degree, with no work experience or on-the-job training usually needed[16]. This is a national figure, not one for North Carolina.
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in North Carolina was $67,540 per year and $32.47 per hour. Half of these workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in North Carolina: 10th percentile $56,100, 25th percentile $62,310, 75th percentile $76,520, 90th percentile $80,850. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less, the 90th means 10% earned more. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US as a whole was $68,380 per year and $32.88 per hour, with about 112,430 jobs nationwide. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 3,280 people worked as Physical Therapist Assistants in North Carolina (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: North Carolina had the 18th highest median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants out of the 50 states and DC with a published median. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in North Carolina ($67,540) was $840 (1.2%) lower than the US median ($68,380). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in North Carolina was $68,790 per year and $33.07 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in North Carolina was $47,970. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- CareerFacts calculation from BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in North Carolina was $19,570 higher than the median for all occupations in the state ($47,970). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: of the 16 metro areas in or partly in North Carolina with a published median for Physical Therapist Assistants, Burlington, NC had the highest median annual wage, $76,010. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Metro areas with the most jobs in this occupation, with median annual wage, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in the US: 10th percentile $47,750, 25th percentile $59,820, 75th percentile $78,680, 90th percentile $89,510. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, median annual wage for Physical Therapist Assistants in states that border North Carolina (highest first): Virginia $73,760; Georgia $72,800; South Carolina $70,500; Tennessee $62,500. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state): employment of Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow 23% nationwide from 2025 to 2035, with about 18,500 openings a year on average. All occupations are projected to grow 3.5%. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections (US, not by state), typical path into Physical Therapist Assistants: education needed for entry: Associate's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physical Therapist Assistants in North Carolina: 10th percentile $26.97, 25th percentile $29.96, 75th percentile $36.79, 90th percentile $38.87. BLS OEWS, May 2025