How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Arkansas in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in Arkansas earns about $47.60 per hour ($99,010 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). That breaks down to roughly $8,251 a month or $1,904 a week, figures calculated from the annual figure. Pay varies by city, employer, and experience, but this figure represents the middle of the range statewide. It offers a starting point for understanding what the role pays across Arkansas.

This is 4% below the national figure of $102,760 a year, according to the same wage data, and Arkansas ranks 39th out of 51 states and territories for Physical Therapist pay. Lower pay in Arkansas generally tracks the state's lower cost of living compared with higher-paying states. The state's Physical Therapist workforce numbers 2,680, providing scale for these figures.

Entry-level Physical Therapists in Arkansas typically start around $35.12 an hour, or about $73,050 a year. New graduates usually enter at this range before pay rises with experience and additional certifications. Within a few years, many reach the typical statewide figure of $99,010 a year. Setting and location also shape how quickly that happens.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Arkansas often earn upwards of $53.59 an hour ($111,470 a year), and the top 10% of earners make over $61.16 an hour, or $127,210 a year. That's a spread of $54,160 between entry-level and top pay. Years of experience, practice setting, and city location typically separate the two groups.

Physical Therapist pay in Arkansas has risen steadily over the past decade, climbing from $76,630 in 2015 to $99,010 in 2025. That's a gain of $22,380, or 29%, over ten years. The increase has been fairly consistent year over year, with only a couple of dips along the way.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same period, meaning Arkansas's growth outpaced the national trend. For someone starting out now, that history shows pay in this field has moved upward over time, though future gains are not guaranteed. Current figures reflect where pay stands today, not where it will be in the future.

Pay runs highest in the Springdale metro area, where Physical Therapists earn $104,500 a year ($50.24 an hour), about 6% above the statewide figure. Rogers and Fayetteville, part of the same northwest Arkansas metro area, report the same figures. These northwest Arkansas cities lead the state for Physical Therapist pay.

Hot Springs reports the lowest pay in the state, at $97,260 a year ($46.76 an hour), putting the spread between the highest- and lowest-paying cities at $7,240. Conway has the largest Physical Therapist workforce of any Arkansas city, with 1,040 workers earning a typical $99,940 a year ($48.05 an hour). These figures cover each city's full metro area, and differences often mirror local living costs as much as anything else.

Among neighboring states, Texas pays the most, at $105,810 a year, about 7% above Arkansas. Tennessee ($100,140), Mississippi ($99,990), Missouri ($99,310), Oklahoma ($98,590), and Louisiana ($98,530) all report figures close to Arkansas's $99,010, within a percentage point or two either way. Physical Therapist licensure earned in one state can often be transferred or endorsed into a neighboring state, which can simplify a move across state lines.

Physical Therapists in Arkansas typically earn $99,010 a year ($47.60 an hour), a figure that has climbed 29% since 2015. Pay varies by city and experience level, with Springdale leading the state and entry-level positions starting closer to $73,050. Readers considering this career in Arkansas can check the state licensing board's requirements and review city-specific pages for local pay figures before making a move.