Physical Therapist Salary in Pinehurst, NC: $96,722 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Pinehurst, NC earns a median $96,722/year (≈ $46.51/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Pinehurst's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.3), that paycheck buys what $109,493 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.5% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physical therapist salaries in Pinehurst, North Carolina, reflect the nuances of the local healthcare landscape, particularly when contrasting employment in outpatient clinics versus hospitals and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). With a median annual salary of $96,722, physical therapist pay in Pinehurst NC is notably lower than the national median of $105,288, highlighting a regional pay structure influenced by local employer types and patient volumes. The salary range extends from $77,081 at the 10th percentile to $124,868 at the 90th percentile, indicating a varied earning potential based on experience and practice setting. Data compiled from official BLS OEWS surveys underscores the dynamics impacting pay scales, which can fluctuate considerably depending on the demands of different work environments, including outpatient orthopedic chains and inpatient rehab services.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $77,081 | $37.06 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $80,575 | $38.74 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $96,722 | $46.51 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $103,894 | $49.95 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $124,868 | $60.03 |
Median Salary Position
8.14% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pinehurst
In Pinehurst, NC, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $47,787 (2026 est.). At $96,722, the local median is 8.14% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Pinehurst: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Pinehurst Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Pinehurst median: $96,722/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pinehurst Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $102,352 | -5.50% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -8.14% less |
Physical Therapists in Pinehurst, NC earn a median of $96,722 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.14% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 5.50% below the North Carolina state average of $102,352.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pinehurst has a cost of living 11.66% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pinehurst, NC has a cost-of-living index of 88.336 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $96,722 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $109,493 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.2% boost.
Compare Purchasing Power
Select a city to see how your salary compares after cost of living
Select a city above to compare purchasing power
2019 BLS Actual
$82,164
2025 BLS Actual
$94,400
2026 Current Est.
$96,722
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Pinehurst (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,164 | Actual |
| 2020 | $83,606 | Actual |
| 2021 | $87,841 | Actual |
| 2022 | $89,770 | Actual |
| 2023 | $91,598 | Actual |
| 2024 | $91,860 | Actual |
| 2025 | $94,400 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $96,722 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $99,102 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pinehurst metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $82,164 (2019) to $94,400 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $99,102 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,938 (20.61%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pinehurst 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) | $77,081 – $80,575 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $80,575 – $96,722 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $96,722 – $103,894 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $103,894 – $124,868 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Pinehurst
Currently, the job market in Pinehurst supports about 100 physical therapists, making it a tight-knit community of professionals. With a cost of living index of 88.336, the purchasing power for those earning a physical therapist salary in Pinehurst aligns favorably against their take-home pay, despite the regional salaries being slightly below national averages. Outpatient orthopedic clinics often provide competitive compensation, yet hospitals and skilled nursing facilities may offer better overall benefits. The variance in pay is influenced by factors such as productivity expectations, the value of specialized board certifications (like OCS and SCS), and the pressure from insurance versus cash-pay models. To optimize earnings in this unique market, therapists should seek opportunities for professional development, including advanced certifications and exploring job options that reward productivity through bonuses or equity in practice ownership.
More salary data for Pinehurst, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Pinehurst, NC in 2026?
Is Pinehurst, NC a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Can physical therapists make $100K in Pinehurst?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist salary in Pinehurst?
How much does a physical therapist make per hour in Pinehurst?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $94,400 for physical therapistsin the Pinehurst 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, 2-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