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

A typical Physical Therapist in Kentucky earns about $48.42 per hour, or $100,710 per year, per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $8,392 a month. On a weekly basis, that comes to about $1,937.

That pay sits about 2% below the national figure of $102,760, giving Kentucky a rank of 28th among the 51 states and D.C. tracked in the survey. The gap is modest, and it generally tracks lower living costs in the state compared with higher-cost areas. Roughly 3,390 Physical Therapists work across Kentucky, a workforce large enough to make these figures a reliable read on typical local pay.

Entry-level Physical Therapists in Kentucky typically start around $35.53 an hour, or about $73,900 a year, according to the same May 2025 wage data. Pay at this level tends to reflect fewer years of clinical experience and work in lower-paying settings such as skilled nursing or home health. Within a few years, most move up toward the typical pay level of $100,710 a year as experience builds.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Kentucky often earn upwards of $55.20 an hour, or around $114,820 a year, and the top 10% of earners make over $126,920 a year. That puts the gap between entry-level and top pay at $53,020, a wide range for a single state. Setting, years on the job, and city all factor into where an individual lands within that range.

Kentucky's typical Physical Therapist pay climbed from $83,910 in 2015 to $100,710 in 2025, a gain of $16,800. That is a 20% rise over the decade. Most of the increase came in the last two years, with pay jumping from $88,640 in 2023 to $97,500 in 2024 before reaching this year's figure.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same ten years, slightly ahead of Kentucky's 20% climb. The difference amounts to just a couple of percentage points rather than a different pattern of growth. For someone starting a career now, the decade shows pay has moved up steadily in both Kentucky and the country as a whole, though past gains are not a promise of future ones.

Pay runs highest in the Elizabethtown metro area, where Physical Therapists typically earn $104,280 a year, about 4% above the statewide figure. Louisville and Paducah also pay above the state figure, at $102,260 and $99,330 a year. These figures cover each city's full metro area, not just the city limits.

At the other end, the Owensboro metro area pays the least, with typical pay of $83,270 a year, a spread of $21,010 between the highest- and lowest-paying cities listed. Louisville has the largest Physical Therapist workforce in the state at 1,140 jobs, with typical pay of $102,260 a year. Higher pay in cities like Elizabethtown and Louisville generally lines up with a higher cost of living than in smaller towns.

Kentucky's neighbors show a mixed picture. Illinois pays about 5% more, at $105,250 a year, and Ohio pays roughly 2% more at $103,050. West Virginia comes in lowest among the group, about 4% below Kentucky at $96,600 a year, while Tennessee and Missouri sit close to Kentucky's figure. Physical Therapy licenses can often be transferred or endorsed from one state to a nearby one, which can simplify a move across the border.

Physical Therapists in Kentucky typically earn $100,710 a year, up 20% over the past decade from $83,910 in 2015. Pay varies by city and experience level, but the overall trend has been upward. Readers considering the field can check the Kentucky Board of Physical Therapy for licensing requirements, and the city-level pages on this site for local pay figures in places like Louisville and Lexington.