Physical Therapist Salary in Lake Charles, LA: $91,087 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Lake Charles, LA earns a median $91,087/year (≈ $43.79/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Lake Charles's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.9), that paycheck buys what $106,098 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 10.1% below the Louisiana state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $91,087 in 2026, physical therapist salaries in Lake Charles, Louisiana, reflect the local market's unique dynamics and productivity expectations. This figure is notably lower than the national median of $105,288, highlighting a trend where local compensation lags behind the national average by approximately 13.49%. Salary ranges further illustrate this variability, with annual earnings falling anywhere from $56,537 at the lower end to $133,567 at the higher end. These numbers are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, providing a reliable foundation for understanding the compensation landscape. Factors such as visit frequency and patient throughput may significantly influence effective hourly rates, putting pressure on therapists to align their productivity with clinic financial goals.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $56,537 | $27.18 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $73,341 | $35.26 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $91,087 | $43.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $109,438 | $52.61 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $133,567 | $64.21 |
Median Salary Position
13.49% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Lake Charles
In Lake Charles, LA, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $77,030 (2026 est.). At $91,087, the local median is 13.49% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Lake Charles: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Lake Charles Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Lake Charles median: $91,087/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Lake Charles Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana Average | $101,320 | -10.10% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -13.49% less |
Physical Therapists in Lake Charles, LA earn a median of $91,087 per year (2026 est.), which is 13.49% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 10.10% below the Louisiana state average of $101,320.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Lake Charles has a cost of living 14.15% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Lake Charles, LA has a cost-of-living index of 85.852 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $91,087 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $106,098 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.48% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$78,070
2025 BLS Actual
$88,900
2026 Current Est.
$91,087
2019–2027 Growth
+19.5%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Lake Charles (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $78,070 | Actual |
| 2020 | $79,990 | Actual |
| 2021 | $96,550 | Actual |
| 2022 | $99,800 | Actual |
| 2023 | $102,190 | Actual |
| 2024 | $93,560 | Actual |
| 2025 | $88,900 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $91,087 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $93,328 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Lake Charles metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 13.9% from $78,070 (2019) to $88,900 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $93,328 by 2027 — a total increase of $15,258 (19.54%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Lake Charles 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) | $56,537 – $73,341 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $73,341 – $91,087 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $91,087 – $109,438 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $109,438 – $133,567 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Lake Charles
In Lake Charles, around 140 physical therapists contribute to the local economy, reflecting a stable, if competitive, job market. The area’s cost-of-living index sits at 85.852, which is lower than the national average, suggesting that physical therapists can enjoy a higher relative purchasing power despite salaries that trail behind national norms. Employers such as outpatient orthopedic clinics, home health agencies, and skilled nursing facilities typically offer varying pay scales, with those focused on higher productivity often rewarding therapists with bonuses or stipends based on board certifications like OCS or SCS. Strategies for maximizing pay in this market include pursuing specialization, considering roles with higher productivity expectations, and weighing opportunities in cash-pay environments, which can offer financial incentives beyond standard insurance reimbursement models. Understanding how much do physical therapists make in Lake Charles and leveraging these insights can enhance career prospects for practitioners in this region.
More salary data for Lake Charles, LA:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Lake Charles, LA in 2026?
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Can physical therapists make $100K in Lake Charles?
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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 $88,900 for physical therapistsin the Lake Charles 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