Physical Therapist Assistant Salary in Myrtle Beach, SC: $66,025 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time physical therapist assistant in Myrtle Beach, SC earns a median $66,025/year (≈ $31.74/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 31-2021). Once you factor in Myrtle Beach's price level (6% below national, BEA RPP 93.6), that paycheck buys what $70,508 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 0.0% above the South Carolina state average.
Official BLS data · View source
In 2026, the typical physical therapist assistant salary in Myrtle Beach, SC, is projected to reach $66,025, falling below the national median of $70,247. This compensation range spans from $54,283 at the bottom (P10) to $82,759 at the top (P90), indicating significant variability in pay dependent on factors such as setting and experience. The distribution of salaries reflects the outpatient versus skilled nursing facility (SNF) dichotomy that has shifted since the 15% Medicare cut in reimbursement for services provided by PTAs, pushing many professionals to seek opportunities in outpatient clinics rather than SNFs, which previously offered competitive salaries. The data presented here is derived from official Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) OEWS surveys, highlighting the evolving dynamics of the healthcare job market in Myrtle Beach.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $54,283 | $26.10 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $59,501 | $28.61 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $66,025 | $31.74 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $78,332 | $37.66 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $82,759 | $39.79 |
Median Salary Position
6.01% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Myrtle Beach
In Myrtle Beach, SC, the physical therapist assistant salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $28,476 (2026 est.). At $66,025, the local median is 6.01% below the national median of $70,247.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Myrtle Beach: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Myrtle Beach Physical Therapist Assistant Pay Compares
Myrtle Beach median: $66,025/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Myrtle Beach Pays |
|---|---|---|
| National Average | $70,247 | -6.01% less |
Physical Therapist Assistants in Myrtle Beach, SC earn a median of $66,025 per year (2026 est.), which is 6.01% lower than the national median of $70,247.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Myrtle Beach has a cost of living 6.36% below the national average, meaning your salary goes further here.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Myrtle Beach, SC has a cost-of-living index of 93.642 (below the national average of 100). A physical therapist assistant earning $66,025 nominally has purchasing power equivalent to $70,508 in an average-cost city — an effective 6.79% boost.
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2019 BLS Actual
$56,890
2025 BLS Actual
$64,270
2026 Current Est.
$66,025
2019–2027 Growth
+19.2%
Salary Trajectory for Physical Therapist Assistants in Myrtle Beach (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 2.73% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $56,890 | Actual |
| 2020 | $59,940 | Actual |
| 2021 | $58,750 | Actual |
| 2022 | $61,490 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,250 | Actual |
| 2024 | $63,470 | Actual |
| 2025 | $64,270 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $66,025 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $67,827 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Myrtle Beach metropolitan area, the median physical therapist assistant salary grew 13.0% from $56,890 (2019) to $64,270 (2025). At a 2.73% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $67,827 by 2027 — a total increase of $10,937 (19.22%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Myrtle Beach 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) | $54,283 – $59,501 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $59,501 – $66,025 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $66,025 – $78,332 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $78,332 – $82,759 |
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 Myrtle Beach
The job market for physical therapist assistants in Myrtle Beach remains robust, with approximately 150 professionals currently employed in the area, ensuring a range of opportunities. The cost of living index is 93.642, suggesting that earnings in Myrtle Beach may stretch further compared to the national average. Among local employers, outpatient orthopedic clinics often provide the highest salaries, while settings like skilled nursing facilities typically offer less due to the ongoing impact of recent Medicare cuts. These discrepancies highlight the importance of work setting, with hospital positions generally paying more than outpatient options. For potential PTAs in Myrtle Beach, maximizing pay often involves targeting outpatient clinics or pursuing specializations that increase productivity expectations, while also considering the value of weekend and PRN shifts, which can command premium rates.
More salary data for Myrtle Beach, SC:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make in Myrtle Beach, SC in 2026?
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Can physical therapist assistants make $100K in Myrtle Beach?
What is the cost-of-living adjusted physical therapist assistant salary in Myrtle Beach?
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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 $64,270 for physical therapist assistantsin the Myrtle Beach 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