Physical Therapist Assistant Hourly Pay in Bowling Green, KY: $30.98 (2026)
Quick Answer:Hourly pay for a physical therapist assistant working in Bowling Green, KY runs $30.98 at the median for 2026 — annualizing to $64,453 at a standard 2,080-hour year. Figures projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Weighted against Bowling Green's regional price level (BEA RPP 90.2, 10% below national), each hour of work buys what $34.36 nationally would. A 24-hour part-time schedule grosses $38,667 per year.
Official BLS data · View source
In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the physical therapist assistant hourly pay is projected to be $30.98 for 2026, which is slightly below the national median of $33.77 per hour. This hourly rate is significant for those seeking part-time positions, as working three days a week could result in stable earnings while still allowing flexibility. In various practice settings like outpatient clinic gyms, skilled nursing facilities, and home health visits, entry-level pay starts at about $17.99, while more experienced PTAs can earn up to $36.84 per hour. These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026, and reflect the range of opportunities available in a growing field in Bowling Green.
Physical Therapist Assistant Hourly Wage Breakdown
| Percentile | Hourly Rate | Per 8hr Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $17.99 | $143.90 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $25.61 | $204.88 |
| Median (P50) | $30.98 | $247.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $34.60 | $276.80 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $36.84 | $294.71 |
Estimated Annual Income by Work Schedule in Bowling Green
Based on $30.98/hr median hourly rate · 2026 est.
At $30.98/hr, a physical therapist assistant working full-time (40 hr/wk) in Bowling Green, KY can expect to earn approximately $64,445 per year (2026 est.). Part-time hygienists working 24 hours per week would earn around $37,180. With a cost-of-living index of 90.18 (below the national average), these earnings stretch further in Bowling Green.
Hourly Rate Calculator
Schedule Comparison in Bowling Green
| Schedule | Weekly | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Time (40 hrs) | $1,239.33 | $5,370 | $64,445 |
| Part-Time (24 hrs) | $743.60 | $3,222 | $38,667 |
| Per Diem (16 hrs) | $495.73 | $2,148 | $25,778 |
Compare PTA Wages With Similar Roles
| Role | Median Hourly |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistant (Bowling Green) | $30.98 |
| Physical Therapist (National Avg) | $48.65 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant (National Avg) | $33.15 |
| Athletic Trainer (National Avg) | $27.85 |
| Massage Therapist (National Avg) | $27.10 |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Bowling Green, KY earn a median of $64,453 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.25% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 0.70% above the Kentucky state average of $64,005.
Physical Therapist Assistant Hourly Pay vs. Cost of Living
Working 24h/week at $30.98/hr = $38,667/year (purchasing power: $42,878).
Working 40h/week (full-time) = $64,445/year (purchasing power: $71,464).
CoL index: 90.179 (100 = national average). Your dollars stretch further here.
2019 BLS Actual
$26.75/hr
2025 BLS Actual
$30.16/hr
2026 Current Est.
$30.98/hr
2019–2027 Growth
+19.0%
Hourly Rate Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Bowling Green (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Hourly Rate | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $26.75/hr | Actual |
| 2020 | $26.36/hr | Actual |
| 2021 | $23.65/hr | Actual |
| 2022 | $29.73/hr | Actual |
| 2023 | $31.17/hr | Actual |
| 2024 | $30.14/hr | Actual |
| 2025 | $30.16/hr | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $30.98/hr | Estimated |
| 2027 | $31.83/hr | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS metropolitan area data, the median hourly rate for physical therapist assistants in Bowling Green grew 12.7% from $26.75/hr (2019) to $30.16/hr (2025). At a 2.73% projected growth rate, hourly pay is expected to reach $31.83/hr by 2027. Part-time and per-diem physical therapist assistants can use this multi-year trend to benchmark future contract negotiations.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Bowling Green 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.
Working as an Hourly Physical Therapist Assistant in Bowling Green
Part-time physical therapist assistants in Bowling Green can expect to earn a solid income while working fewer hours than full-time employees. For example, a PTA working three days a week for a total of 24 hours could take home approximately $38,482 annually based on the hourly median. Meanwhile, per diem physical therapist assistant pay in Bowling Green typically ranges from $32 to $48 per hour, with travel contracts offering weekly payments between $1,200 and $1,800. Rates can differ across employer types; outpatient clinics might offer different pay scales compared to skilled nursing facilities, which have seen reduced agency pay due to recent Medicare cuts. This dynamic can lead some PTAs to choose lower hourly rates in exchange for benefits like health insurance. Negotiating work hours or compensation effectively can make a significant difference, so PTAs should be prepared to discuss their preferences based on their desired income and employment benefits.
More salary data for Bowling Green, KY:
Frequently Asked Questions
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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
Hourly wage figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. A 2.73% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), derived from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to estimate current 2026 hourly rates for physical therapist assistants in Bowling Green. Part-time and full-time income estimates assume consistent weekly hours and do not account for overtime, benefits, or seasonal variation.
Data Sources & Methodology
Source: BLS, OEWS, 6-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