Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Fort Smith, AR: $64,936 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Fort Smith, AR earns a median $64,936/year (≈ $31.22/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Fort Smith's price level (14% below national, BEA RPP 85.9), that paycheck buys what $75,605 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.1% below the Arkansas state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median salary of $64,936 for physical therapist assistants in Fort Smith, Arkansas, the local compensation is slightly below the national median of $70,247. Salaries here range from $38,524 at the 10th percentile to $81,722 at the 90th percentile, reflecting varying factors like workplace setting and productivity expectations. This data, derived from 2025 BLS OEWS surveys and projected to 2026, indicates that opportunities in outpatient clinics and skilled nursing facilities might yield different financial outcomes due to their distinct operational models and patient demands. Although Fort Smith represents a solid job market for physical therapist assistants, the compensation still lags behind the national average, emphasizing the need for professionals to understand their value in this evolving healthcare landscape.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $38,524 | $18.52 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $56,892 | $27.35 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,936 | $31.22 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $78,537 | $37.76 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81,722 | $39.28 |
Median Salary Position
7.56% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fort Smith
In Fort Smith, AR, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $43,198 (2026 est.). At $64,936, the local median is 7.56% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fort Smith: You'd be above the median
How Fort Smith Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Fort Smith median: $64,936/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fort Smith Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Average | $65,001 | -0.10% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | -7.56% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Fort Smith, AR earn a median of $64,936 per year (2026 est.), which is 7.56% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 0.10% below the Arkansas state average of $65,001.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fort Smith has a cost of living 14.11% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fort Smith, AR has a cost-of-living index of 85.888 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $64,936 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $75,605 in an average-cost city — an effective 16.43% 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
$56,510
2025 BLS Actual
$63,210
2026 Current Est.
$64,936
2019–2027 Growth
+18.0%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Fort Smith (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,510 | Actual |
| 2020 | $61,680 | Actual |
| 2021 | $59,030 | Actual |
| 2022 | $58,450 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,570 | Actual |
| 2024 | $60,620 | Actual |
| 2025 | $63,210 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,936 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,708 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fort Smith metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 11.9% from $56,510 (2019) to $63,210 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $66,708 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,198 (18.05%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fort Smith 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) | $38,524 – $56,892 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $56,892 – $64,936 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,936 – $78,537 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $78,537 – $81,722 |
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 Fort Smith
Examining the local job market reveals that there are currently around 140 physical therapist assistants employed in Fort Smith, indicating a stable demand for these professionals. The cost-of-living index at 85.888 further accentuates the significance of salaries in this area, allowing residents to stretch their earnings further compared to more expensive regions. Employers that tend to offer higher pay include outpatient orthopedic clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and hospital inpatient rehabilitation programs, reflecting their focus on comprehensive patient care. The disparity between lower and higher salaries often comes down to factors like the specific setting of employment, the productivity expectations placed on staff, and additional incentives such as weekend work or supervisory responsibilities. For aspiring physical therapist assistants looking to maximize their pay, seeking opportunities in high-demand settings or pursuing further education—for instance, bridging programs to DPT—can significantly enhance career prospects and salary potential in Fort Smith, AR.
More salary data for Fort Smith, AR:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Fort Smith, AR in 2026?
Is Fort Smith, AR a good place to work as a physical therapist assistant?
Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Fort Smith?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Fort Smith?
How much does a physical therapist assistant make per hour in Fort Smith?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in Arkansas
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 $63,210 for physical therapist assistantsin the Fort Smith 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