Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Pinehurst, NC: $64,052 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Pinehurst, NC earns a median $64,052/year (≈ $30.80/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Pinehurst's price level (12% below national, BEA RPP 88.3), that paycheck buys what $72,510 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 3.6% below the North Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In Pinehurst, North Carolina, the projected salary for physical therapist assistants stands at $64,052 in 2026, which is approximately 8.82% below the national median of $70,247. The salary range for this role in Pinehurst varies significantly, from $60,313 at the lower end (P10) to $80,386 at the high end (P90). This data relies on official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) surveys. The local job market has seen shifts, especially following the 15% Medicare cut that impacted reimbursements for outpatient services, leading to a reorganization of therapy settings between skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and outpatient clinics. Consequently, this adjustment influences the financial landscape for physical therapist assistants working in Pinehurst.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $60,313 | $29.00 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $61,741 | $29.69 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $64,052 | $30.80 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $71,449 | $34.35 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $80,386 | $38.65 |
Median Salary Position
8.82% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Pinehurst
In Pinehurst, NC, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $20,073 (2026 est.). At $64,052, the local median is 8.82% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Pinehurst: You'd be in the entry-level range
How Pinehurst Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Pinehurst median: $64,052/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Pinehurst Pays |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina Average | $66,444 | -3.60% less |
| National Average | $70,247 | -8.82% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Pinehurst, NC earn a median of $64,052 per year (2026 est.), which is 8.82% lower than the national median of $70,247 and 3.60% below the North Carolina state average of $66,444.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Pinehurst has a cost of living 11.66% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Pinehurst, NC has a cost-of-living index of 88.336 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $64,052 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $72,510 in an average-cost city — an effective 13.2% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$53,606
2025 BLS Actual
$62,350
2026 Current Est.
$64,052
2019–2027 Growth
+22.7%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Pinehurst (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $53,606 | Actual |
| 2020 | $54,499 | Actual |
| 2021 | $55,785 | Actual |
| 2022 | $57,235 | Actual |
| 2023 | $58,429 | Actual |
| 2024 | $70,260 | Actual |
| 2025 | $62,350 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $64,052 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $65,801 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Pinehurst metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 16.3% from $53,606 (2019) to $62,350 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $65,801 by 2027 — a total increase of $12,195 (22.75%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Pinehurst 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) | $60,313 – $61,741 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $61,741 – $64,052 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $64,052 – $71,449 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $71,449 – $80,386 |
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 Pinehurst
Currently, Pinehurst employs around 40 physical therapist assistants, an indicator of the job market's stability despite lower compensation compared to national averages. With a cost-of-living index of 88.336, residents enjoy relatively affordable living compared to the national norm, thus influencing the real purchasing power of salaries in the area. Among local employers, outpatient orthopedic clinics tend to provide the highest wages, with productivity expectations driving pay differentials. Those in hospital settings generally earn more due to robust reimbursement structures, while PTAs in SNFs may experience tighter wage constraints linked to recent Medicare adjustments. To maximize pay in Pinehurst, professionals should consider seeking roles in high-demand settings, increasing weekend or PRN hours, and exploring potential transitions to supervisory positions or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) programs to enhance earning potential.
More salary data for Pinehurst, NC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Pinehurst, NC in 2026?
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Pinehurst?
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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 $62,350 for physical therapist assistantsin the Pinehurst 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, 2-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