Physical Therapists in North Carolina
Thinking about a career as a Physical Therapists in North Carolina? Here’s what you need to know. Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
What do Physical Therapists Make in North Carolina?
The physical therapists working in North Carolina, the median annual wage is $96,670 per year (or roughly $46.47/hour).Annual wages span from $72,850 at the 10th percentile to $121,380 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $72,850 | $35.02 |
| 25th percentile | $81,060 | $38.97 |
| Median (50th) | $96,670 | $46.47 |
| 75th percentile | $106,680 | $51.29 |
| 90th percentile | $121,380 | $58.36 |
The job concentration index in North Carolina nationwide is 0.93.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, physical therapists earn a median of $144,047 per year ($69.25/hour), lower than the North Carolina median.
Employment Outlook
Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 2,206,692 physical therapists across the United States. In North Carolina alone, about 7,350 people work in this role. That’s higher than the typical state, which employs around 3,000 physical therapists.
Top North Carolina Metros for Physical Therapists
The metro areas below employ the most physical therapists in North Carolina.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 1,930 | $100,310 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,100 | $93,860 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 690 | $96,630 |
| Wilmington, NC | 550 | $84,800 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | 500 | $93,690 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 410 | $97,840 |
| Asheville, NC | 340 | $98,810 |
| Fayetteville, NC | 200 | $100,450 |
| Greenville, NC | 190 | $96,010 |
| Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC | 160 | $98,970 |
| Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC | 130 | $91,860 |
| Burlington, NC | 100 | $96,750 |
| Jacksonville, NC | 70 | $89,640 |
| Rocky Mount, NC | 70 | $101,390 |
| Goldsboro, NC | 50 | $96,880 |
Top States for Physical Therapists Employment
View the states that employ the most physical therapists work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| California | 24,380 |
| Texas | 18,930 |
| Florida | 17,050 |
| New York | 15,810 |
| Pennsylvania | 11,100 |
| Illinois | 10,390 |
| Ohio | 9,240 |
| Michigan | 7,800 |
| New Jersey | 7,760 |
| North Carolina | 7,350 |
| Virginia | 6,700 |
| Massachusetts | 6,600 |
| Georgia | 5,480 |
| Washington | 5,460 |
| Colorado | 5,430 |
| Wisconsin | 5,240 |
| Minnesota | 5,220 |
| Indiana | 5,180 |
| Arizona | 4,540 |
| Maryland | 4,420 |
Highest-Paying States for Physical Therapists
Where physical therapists earn the most: physical therapists.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $123,300 |
| Alaska | $108,640 |
| New Jersey | $106,310 |
| Nevada | $105,170 |
| Oregon | $104,430 |
| Maryland | $104,330 |
| Connecticut | $103,720 |
| Texas | $103,710 |
| Illinois | $103,380 |
| Delaware | $103,120 |
Skills
Key physical therapists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
Key abilities for physical therapists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, physical therapists typically:
- Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
- Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
- Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
- Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
- Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
- Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
- Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
- Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
- Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
- Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
- Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
- Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems
- Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
- Getting Information
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Training and Teaching Others
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
- Rehabilitation Professions
Featured schools near , edit
Related Careers
Related occupations to physical therapists include:
- Occupational Therapists
- Radiation Therapists
- Recreational Therapists
- Respiratory Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Acute Care Nurses
Also Known As
Acute Care PT (Acute Care Physical Therapist), Acute Physical Therapist (Acute PT), Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapist (Cardiopulmonary PT), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Geriatric Physical Therapist (Geriatric PT), Home Care Physical Therapist (Home Care PT), Home Health Physical Therapist (Home Health PT), Inpatient Physical Therapist (Inpatient PT), Kinesiotherapist, LPT (Licensed Physical Therapist), Orthopedic Physical Therapist (Orthopedic PT), Outpatient Orthopedics Physical Therapist (Outpatient Ortho PT), Outpatient Physical Therapist (Outpatient PT), Outpatient Travel Physical Therapist (Outpatient Travel PT), Pediatric Physical Therapist (Pediatric PT).
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 29-1123.00