Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Florence, AL: $61,330 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Florence, AL earns a median $61,330/year (≈ $29.48/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Florence's price level (15% below national, BEA RPP 84.8), that paycheck buys what $72,309 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 2.8% below the Alabama state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the projected median annual salary for a physical therapist assistant in Florence, AL, is $61,330, which reflects a notable gap of 12.69% compared to the national median of $70,247. Local salaries range from $50,779 at the lower tenth percentile to $80,201 for top earners. These figures are derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) occupational employment and wage surveys, which provide essential insight into compensation trends. With productivity expectations driving this sector, physical therapist assistants often influence their earnings through the number of patient visits they manage daily. In Florence's competitive job market, understanding these dynamics is crucial for both new graduates and established professionals alike.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $50,779 | $24.42 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $52,783 | $25.37 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $61,330 | $29.48 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $73,524 | $35.35 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80,201 | $38.56 |
Median Salary Position
12.69% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Florence
In Florence, AL, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $29,422 (2026 est.). At $61,330, the local median is 12.69% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Florence: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Florence Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Florence median: $61,330/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Florence Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama Average | $63,097 | -2.80% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | -12.69% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Florence, AL earn a median of $61,330 per year (2026 est.), which is 12.69% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 2.80% below the Alabama state average of $63,097.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Florence has a cost of living 15.18% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Florence, AL has a cost-of-living index of 84.817 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $61,330 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,309 in an average-cost city — an effective 17.9% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,750
2025 BLS Actual
$59,700
2026 Current Est.
$61,330
2019–2027 Growth
+9.1%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Florence (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,750 | Actual |
| 2020 | $60,180 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,040 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,190 | Actual |
| 2023 | $62,790 | Actual |
| 2024 | $58,570 | Actual |
| 2025 | $59,700 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $61,330 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $63,004 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Florence metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 3.4% from $57,750 (2019) to $59,700 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $63,004 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,254 (9.10%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Florence 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 2.73% 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) | $50,779 – $52,783 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $52,783 – $61,330 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $61,330 – $73,524 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $73,524 – $80,201 |
PTA salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual physical therapist assistant compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Physical Therapist Assistant Job Market in Florence
Currently, there are about 80 physical therapist assistants working in Florence, which contributes to shaping the local job market. The cost-of-living index in the city stands at 84.817, lower than the national average, enhancing purchasing power for residents. Among potential employers, outpatient orthopedic clinics typically offer higher pay than skilled nursing facilities, especially after the reduction of Medicare reimbursement for PTA services. This disparity in earnings highlights the influence of setting on compensation, where hospital inpatient rehabilitation often provides the best salaries, followed by outpatient clinics. Furthermore, maximizing earnings in Florence can be achieved by seeking positions that compensate for high productivity levels, working weekends or filling PRN roles, and considering settings that allow for greater autonomy under physical therapist supervision.
More salary data for Florence, AL:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Florence, AL in 2026?
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Florence?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Florence?
How much does a physical therapist assistant make per hour in Florence?
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Written by Jordan Lee, DPT
Career Analyst
Jordan has 10 years of experience in outpatient physical therapy. They specialize in orthopedic rehabilitation. Jordan 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 $59,700 for physical therapist assistantsin the Florence metropolitan area. A 2.73% 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 2.73%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for physical therapist assistants (SOC 31-2021).
Compiled and verified by Jordan Lee, DPT, a licensed physical therapist assistant with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov