Physical Therapist Aides pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,040 a year or less, while the top 10% make $74,010 or more. The middle half of physical therapist aides in Hickory earn between $34,760 and $37,170.
- $31K10th
- $35K25th
- $35KMedian
- $37K75th
- $74K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $42,260 | $3,522 | $20.32 |
| Median | $34,760 | $2,897 | $16.71 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $34,760 | $2,897 | $16.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $37,170 | $3,098 | $17.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Aides pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Physical therapist aides in Hickory earn 8% more than the North Carolina average ($39,310) and 16% more than the U.S. average ($36,430). At the median the gap is -1% against the U.S. median of $35,240.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $42,260 | $34,760 | $31,040 | $74,010 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $39,310 | $34,760 | $28,920 | $72,890 | 1,050 |
| United States | $36,430 | $35,240 | $25,360 | $47,780 | 48,150 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapist Aides salary after taxes in Hickory
On the average salary of $42,260, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $34,958 a year, or $2,913 a month and $1,345 every two weeks. Taxes take 17% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for physical therapist aides? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $42,260 buys what about $47,759 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Aides salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 3rd of 9 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Asheville pays the most ($43,760).
- Asheville$43,760
- Fayetteville$43,710
- Hickory$42,260
- Durham$41,770
- Winston-Salem$41,500
- Raleigh$40,610
- Greensboro$39,660
- Charlotte$39,300
- Wilmington$34,470
Highest-paying cities for physical therapist aides
Anchorage, AK pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($57,940).
- Anchorage, AK$57,940
- San Jose, CA$51,380
- Santa Cruz, CA$50,620
- San Francisco, CA$49,270
- Seattle, WA$47,620
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Physical Therapist Aides salary in Hickory: questions
How much do physical therapist aides make an hour in Hickory?
$20.32 an hour on average, and $16.71 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist aides salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $31,040 a year and the 25th percentile is $34,760, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist aides take-home pay in Hickory?
About $34,958 a year ($2,913 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $42,260.
Do physical therapist aides earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 16% more than the U.S. average for this job ($36,430).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-2022; area Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.82, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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