Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Fayetteville, NC: $66,281 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Fayetteville, NC earns a median $66,281/year (≈ $31.87/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Fayetteville's price level (8% below national, BEA RPP 92.0), that paycheck buys what $72,062 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.2% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
With a projected median annual salary of $66,281 in 2026, the physical therapist assistant salary in Fayetteville holds a slightly lower stance compared to the national median of $70,247. The salary range for local PTAs extends from $57,118 at the 10th percentile to $81,527 at the 90th percentile, indicating a diverse potential for income based on varying factors like experience, employment setting, and patient load. These figures are based on 2025 BLS OEWS data, projected to 2026. As the job market develops in Fayetteville, opportunities for PTAs may vary, particularly in outpatient clinics and skilled nursing facilities, which could influence not only salary potential but also job satisfaction and stability in the field.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $57,118 | $27.46 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,874 | $29.75 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $66,281 | $31.87 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $75,835 | $36.46 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $81,527 | $39.19 |
Median Salary Position
5.65% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Fayetteville
In Fayetteville, NC, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $24,409 (2026 est.). At $66,281, the local median is 5.65% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Fayetteville: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Fayetteville Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Fayetteville median: $66,281/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Fayetteville Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $66,414 | -0.20% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | -5.65% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Fayetteville, NC earn a median of $66,281 per year (2026 est.), which is 5.65% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 0.20% below the North Carolina state average of $66,414.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Fayetteville has a cost of living 8.02% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Fayetteville, NC has a cost-of-living index of 91.978 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $66,281 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,062 in an average-cost city — an effective 8.72% 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
$62,280
2025 BLS Actual
$64,520
2026 Current Est.
$66,281
2019–2027 Growth
+9.3%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Fayetteville (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $62,280 | Actual |
| 2020 | $66,270 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,310 | Actual |
| 2022 | $57,390 | Actual |
| 2023 | $58,270 | Actual |
| 2024 | $62,150 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,520 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66,281 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $68,091 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Fayetteville metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 3.6% from $62,280 (2019) to $64,520 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $68,091 by 2027 — a total increase of $5,811 (9.33%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Fayetteville 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) | $57,118 – $61,874 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,874 – $66,281 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $66,281 – $75,835 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $75,835 – $81,527 |
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 Fayetteville
Despite an annual employment figure of around 130 physical therapist assistants in Fayetteville, the local job market offers a mixed picture for compensation. The cost-of-living index in Fayetteville is at 91.978, which is below the national average, contributing to a more favorable environment for retaining purchasing power. Outpatient orthopedic clinics typically offer higher salaries compared to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), largely due to the higher productivity expectations and the reduced impact of the 15% Medicare cut in outpatient settings. Conversely, the lower end of the pay scale can be attributed to settings like SNFs that have experienced cuts and supervision requirements that impact PTA roles differently. To maximize earnings within this competitive landscape, PTAs in Fayetteville should consider pursuing advanced certifications, exploring diverse employment settings, or transitioning to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program, which can significantly enhance lifelong earning potential.
More salary data for Fayetteville, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Fayetteville, NC in 2026?
Is Fayetteville, NC a good place to work as a physical therapist assistant?
Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Fayetteville?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Fayetteville?
How much does a physical therapist assistant make per hour in Fayetteville?
Related Pages
Compare Salaries
Career Resources
Nearby Cities in North Carolina
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 $64,520 for physical therapist assistantsin the Fayetteville 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