Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Charlotte, NC: $72,651 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Charlotte, NC earns a median $72,651/year (≈ $34.93/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Charlotte's price level (3% below national, BEA RPP 97.3), that paycheck buys what $74,630 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 9.4% above the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Charlotte, North Carolina, physical therapist assistants are projected to earn a median annual salary of $72,651 in 2026, reflecting a competitive market compared to the national median of $70,247. The range of salaries for this role spans from $59,491 at the 10th percentile to $85,523 at the 90th percentile, underscoring a variance in compensation that can be influenced by factors such as work setting and experience level. Derived from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, this data indicates robust opportunities for PTAs in Charlotte. With the ongoing transition from PTA to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) intervention predicted to impact future earnings, professionals looking toward their career progression have the potential to significantly enhance their lifetime earning potential through educational advancements.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $59,491 | $28.60 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $66,035 | $31.75 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $72,651 | $34.93 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $80,129 | $38.52 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $85,523 | $41.11 |
Median Salary Position
3.42% above the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Charlotte
In Charlotte, NC, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $26,032 (2026 est.). At $72,651, the local median is 3.42% above the national median of $70,247.
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At 40 hours/week in Charlotte: You'd be above the median
How Charlotte Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Charlotte median: $72,651/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Charlotte Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $66,408 | +9.40% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | +3.42% more |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Charlotte, NC earn a median of $72,651 per year (2026 est.), which is 3.42% higher than the national median of $70,247 and 9.40% above the North Carolina state average of $66,408.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Charlotte has a cost of living 2.65% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Charlotte, NC has a cost-of-living index of 97.348 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $72,651 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $74,630 in an average-cost city — an effective 2.72% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$60,540
2025 BLS Actual
$70,720
2026 Current Est.
$72,651
2019–2027 Growth
+23.3%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Charlotte (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $60,540 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,980 | Actual |
| 2021 | $61,560 | Actual |
| 2022 | $62,280 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,620 | Actual |
| 2024 | $67,220 | Actual |
| 2025 | $70,720 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $72,651 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $74,634 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Charlotte metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 16.8% from $60,540 (2019) to $70,720 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $74,634 by 2027 — a total increase of $14,094 (23.28%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Charlotte 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) | $59,491 – $66,035 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $66,035 – $72,651 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $72,651 – $80,129 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $80,129 – $85,523 |
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 Charlotte
In terms of the local employment landscape, approximately 870 physical therapist assistants currently work in Charlotte, NC. The cost of living index stands at 97.348, suggesting that while salaries are reasonable, the purchasing power for PTAs may be somewhat limited compared to more expensive markets. Employers like outpatient orthopedic clinics and hospital inpatient rehabilitation facilities tend to offer the highest salaries, while settings such as skilled nursing facilities may have compressed pay due to the 15% cut in Medicare reimbursement for certain PTA services. Variability in the physical therapist assistant pay in Charlotte, NC, can also occur due to work conditions that influence productivity expectations, supervision needs, and specific incentives for weekend or PRN shifts. To maximize earning potential, aspiring PTAs should focus on specialty certifications and seek out positions in higher-paying facilities, where skill demands can lead to greater career advancement and compensation opportunities.
More salary data for Charlotte, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Charlotte, NC in 2026?
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Charlotte?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Charlotte?
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Related Pages
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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 $70,720 for physical therapist assistantsin the Charlotte 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