Physical Therapists pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $125,880 or more. The middle half of physical therapists in Durham earn between $80,790 and $105,580.
- $81K10th
- $81K25th
- $100KMedian
- $106K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $96,260 | $8,022 | $46.28 |
| Median | $100,240 | $8,353 | $48.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $80,790 | $6,732 | $38.84 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,580 | $8,798 | $50.76 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapists pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Physical therapists in Durham earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($100,010) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($105,280). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $102,760.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $96,260 | $100,240 | $80,720 | $125,880 | 790 |
| North Carolina | $100,010 | $99,910 | $78,020 | $125,940 | 7,350 |
| United States | $105,280 | $102,760 | $77,140 | $135,140 | 267,330 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapists salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $96,260, a single filer in Durham takes home about $73,217 a year, or $6,101 a month and $2,816 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for physical therapists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $96,260 buys what about $98,655 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 4.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapists salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 12th of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Charlotte pays the most ($103,700).
- Charlotte$103,700
- Hickory$101,850
- Rocky Mount$100,820
- Raleigh$100,350
- Winston-Salem$99,480
- Fayetteville$99,460
- Asheville$98,710
- Burlington$98,000
- Greenville$97,630
- Durham$96,260
Highest-paying cities for physical therapists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($145,040).
- San Francisco, CA$145,040
- San Jose, CA$140,090
- Napa, CA$136,360
- Santa Rosa, CA$135,520
- Vallejo, CA$132,660
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Physical Therapists salary in Durham: questions
How much do physical therapists make an hour in Durham?
$46.28 an hour on average, and $48.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapists salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $80,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapists take-home pay in Durham?
About $73,217 a year ($6,101 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $96,260.
Do physical therapists earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less than the U.S. average for this job ($105,280).
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 29-1123; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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