Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Bowling Green, KY: $64,453 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Bowling Green, KY earns a median $64,453/year (≈ $30.98/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Bowling Green's price level (10% below national, BEA RPP 90.2), that paycheck buys what $71,472 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.7% above the Kentucky state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, physical therapist assistants (PTAs) in Bowling Green, KY, are projected to earn a median annual salary of $64,453, which is notably lower than the national median of $70,247, reflecting a disparity of 8.25%. Salary ranges for this occupation vary significantly, with the bottom 10% earning around $37,404 and the top 10% reaching up to $76,616, according to projections based on 2025 BLS OEWS data. The local job market has experienced shifts, particularly following the Medicare cuts, which have altered compensation dynamics across different practice settings. While outpatient clinics have remained competitive, skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) have faced challenges, which in turn affects pay trends within Bowling Green's healthcare landscape.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $37,404 | $17.99 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,266 | $25.61 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,453 | $30.98 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $71,952 | $34.60 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $76,616 | $36.84 |
Median Salary Position
8.25% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Bowling Green
In Bowling Green, KY, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $39,212 (2026 est.). At $64,453, the local median is 8.25% below the national median of $70,247.
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At 40 hours/week in Bowling Green: You'd be above the median
How Bowling Green Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Bowling Green median: $64,453/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Bowling Green Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Average | $64,005 | +0.70% more |
| National Average | $70,247 | -8.25% less |
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.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Bowling Green has a cost of living 9.82% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Bowling Green, KY has a cost-of-living index of 90.179 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $64,453 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $71,472 in an average-cost city — an effective 10.89% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$55,650
2025 BLS Actual
$62,740
2026 Current Est.
$64,453
2019–2027 Growth
+19.0%
Salary 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 | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $55,650 | Actual |
| 2020 | $54,840 | Actual |
| 2021 | $49,200 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,850 | Actual |
| 2023 | $64,830 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,700 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,740 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,453 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $66,212 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Bowling Green metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 12.7% from $55,650 (2019) to $62,740 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $66,212 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,562 (18.98%) from 2019.
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.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $37,404 – $53,266 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,266 – $64,453 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,453 – $71,952 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $71,952 – $76,616 |
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 Bowling Green
Considering that there are approximately 130 physical therapist assistants currently employed in Bowling Green, understanding the area's cost-of-living index of 90.179 is vital for evaluating take-home pay. This index indicates that the local cost of living is below the national average, meaning PTAs might enjoy relatively decent purchasing power despite the lower average salaries. Employers such as outpatient orthopedic clinics tend to offer higher pay than both skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies, particularly as demand for PTAs continues to grow. The disparity in compensation is often influenced by factors like setting, with hospital-based roles typically offering higher salaries than outpatient or SNF positions, alongside expectations for productivity and the impact of Medicare's reimbursement cuts. For PTAs in Bowling Green, strategies to enhance earnings could include pursuing specialty certifications or additional training programs to increase versatility and employment opportunities across varying clinical settings.
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
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 $62,740 for physical therapist assistantsin the Bowling Green 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, 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