Physical Therapist Salary in Columbia, TN: $97,335 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist in Columbia, TN earns a median $97,335/year (≈ $46.79/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 29-1123). Once you factor in Columbia's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 91.8), that paycheck buys what $106,029 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.5% below the Tennessee state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In 2026, the physical therapist salary in Columbia, TN, is projected to reach a median of $97,335, which reflects a competitive pay scale when compared to the national median of $105,288. With a salary range spanning from $72,431 at the 10th percentile to $127,330 at the 90th percentile, physical therapists in Columbia can find varied opportunities across different settings. The structure of employment, whether in outpatient clinics, hospitals, or skilled nursing facilities, greatly influences pay. Outpatient providers typically offer lower salaries but may include productivity bonuses, while hospitals often have more robust compensation packages due to the complexities of inpatient care. These figures and projections are derived from BLS state-level data and regional price adjustments, reflecting the current job market dynamics in Columbia.
About the Columbia Market
Salary estimated from Tennessee average ($92,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $72,431 | $34.83 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $79,984 | $38.45 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $97,335 | $46.79 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $115,675 | $55.62 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $127,330 | $61.22 |
Median Salary Position
7.55% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Columbia
In Columbia, TN, the physical therapist salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $54,899 (2026 est.). At $97,335, the local median is 7.55% below the national median of $105,288.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Columbia: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Columbia Physical Therapist Pay Compares
Columbia median: $97,335/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Columbia Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Average | $99,831 | -2.50% less |
| National Average | $105,288 | -7.55% less |
Physical Therapists in Columbia, TN earn a median of $97,335 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.55% lower than the national median of $105,288 and 2.50% below the Tennessee state average of $99,831.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Columbia has a cost of living 8.20% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Columbia, TN has a cost-of-living index of 91.8 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist earning $97,335 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $106,029 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.93% 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
$82,684
2025 BLS Actual
$94,998
2026 Current Est.
$97,335
2019–2027 Growth
+20.6%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapists in Columbia (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.46% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $82,684 | Actual |
| 2020 | $84,136 | Actual |
| 2021 | $88,397 | Actual |
| 2022 | $90,339 | Actual |
| 2023 | $92,178 | Actual |
| 2024 | $82,306 | Actual |
| 2025 | $94,998 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $97,335 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $99,729 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Columbia metropolitan area, the median physical therapist salary grew 14.9% from $82,684 (2019) to $94,998 (2025). At a 2.46% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $99,729 by 2027 — a total increase of $17,045 (20.61%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Columbia 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) | $72,431 – $79,984 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $79,984 – $97,335 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $97,335 – $115,675 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $115,675 – $127,330 |
PT salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Job Market in Columbia
Looking at the local job market, only 10 physical therapists are employed in Columbia, indicating a specialized field that can sometimes lead to unique opportunities based on demand. The cost-of-living index of 91.8 suggests that while salaries may fall slightly below the national average, take-home purchasing power is more favorable, potentially offsetting the lower average pay. Outpatient orthopedic clinics like ATI or Athletico, along with hospital systems, are significant employers and often set the competitive wage benchmarks. Variations in compensation stem from factors such as board certifications (like OCS or SCS), expectations for productivity, and whether practices operate under cash-pay versus insurance models. To maximize physical therapist pay in Columbia, pursuing board specialization and considering roles that offer a combination of base salary and performance incentives can be advantageous.
More salary data for Columbia, TN:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapists make in Columbia, TN in 2026?
Is Columbia, TN a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Can physical therapists make $100K in Columbia?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist salary in Columbia?
How much does a physical therapist make per hour in Columbia?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Tennessee
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 $94,998 for physical therapistsin the Columbia 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
Salary data for Columbia is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
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