How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Fort Smith, AR in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Fort Smith, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Arkansas.
BLS OES May 2025 · Fort Smith metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Fort Smith, Arkansas earns $47.47 per hour, or $98,730 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,228 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,800, and the top 10% of earners make over $129,460.
That pay is right at the Arkansas figure of $99,010 and 4% below the national figure of $102,760. Fort Smith ranks 4th of 5 metro areas in Arkansas for Physical Therapist pay. About 160 Physical Therapists work in the Fort Smith area.
Physical Therapist pay in Fort Smith at a glance
- Typical pay is $47.47 an hour, or $98,730 a year.
- That is right at the Arkansas figure, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,800; the top 10% make over $129,460.
- Typical pay rose +14% from 2015 to 2025, against +29% for Arkansas as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Fort Smith?
Pay in Fort Smith runs from entry-level positions at around $36.44 an hour to more than $62.24 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Arkansas and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Fort Smith
| Career stage | Fort Smith | Arkansas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $75,800$36.44 an hour | $73,050$35.12 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $84,460$40.61 an hour | $81,260$39.07 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $98,730$47.47 an hour | $99,010$47.60 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $114,540$55.07 an hour | $111,470$53.59 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $129,460$62.24 an hour | $127,210$61.16 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Fort Smith area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Fort Smith
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Fort Smith area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Fort Smith was $86,940 a year. By 2025 it had reached $98,730, a change of +14%, compared with +29% for Arkansas over the same years.
How Fort Smith compares with other Arkansas cities
Springdale pays Physical Therapists the most in Arkansas at $104,500 a year, $5,770 more than Fort Smith. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hot Springs at $97,260.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Fort Smith | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Springdale metro incl. Rogers · Fayetteville | $104,500 | $50.24 | +6% | 430 |
| 2 | Jonesboro | $100,010 | $48.08 | +1% | 190 |
| 3 | Conway metro incl. Little Rock · North Little Rock | $99,940 | $48.05 | +1% | 1,040 |
| 4 | Fort Smith | $98,730 | $47.47 | this city | 160 |
| 5 | Hot Springs | $97,260 | $46.76 | -1% | 90 |
Every metro area in Arkansas with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Arkansas typical pay $99,010
Is Fort Smith a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Fort Smith sits close to the national figure: $98,730 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Fort Smith area, about 1.7 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.8. Physical Therapist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Fort Smith, AR?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Fort Smith earns $98,730 a year, or $47.47 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $75,800 and the top 10% earn over $129,460.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Fort Smith?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Fort Smith is $47.47. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.44, and the top 10% earn over $62.24 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Fort Smith?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Fort Smith typically offer around $36.44 an hour, or $75,800 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Fort Smith higher than in the rest of Arkansas?
- Fort Smith pay is right at the Arkansas figure of $99,010 a year, ranking 4th of 5 metro areas in the state. Springdale pays the most in Arkansas at $104,500.