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

A typical Physical Therapist in Louisiana earns about $47.37 per hour ($98,530 per year), per the latest government wage data (May 2025). Calculated from that annual figure, pay works out to roughly $8,211 a month and about $1,895 a week. Those figures describe what a typical Physical Therapist takes home before taxes, across all settings and experience levels statewide.

Louisiana pay runs 4% below the national figure of $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour) for Physical Therapists, according to the same May 2025 data. That gap places Louisiana 42nd among the 51 states and territories ranked for this occupation. Statewide, 3,280 Physical Therapists work in Louisiana, compared with 267,330 nationwide. Lower pay in Louisiana tends to track its lower cost of living relative to higher-cost states.

Entry-level Physical Therapists in Louisiana typically start around $28.92 an hour, or about $60,150 a year, according to the same wage data. That starting figure sits well below the statewide typical pay of $98,530. Pay tends to move up from there within a few years as new therapists gain experience and take on more complex caseloads.

Experienced Physical Therapists in Louisiana often earn upwards of $52.72 an hour, or around $109,650 a year. The top 10% of earners make over $61.37 an hour, or $127,640 a year. That leaves a spread of $67,490 between entry-level and top-tier pay, a gap shaped mostly by years of experience, practice setting, and which city a therapist works in.

Louisiana Physical Therapist pay has climbed from $78,850 in 2015 to $98,530 in 2025, according to government wage data. That is a gain of $19,680, or 25%, over the decade. The rise wasn't a straight line each year, but the overall direction over ten years has been upward.

Nationally, Physical Therapist pay rose 22% over the same ten years, a slightly smaller rise than Louisiana posted. That means Louisiana's pay has been catching up somewhat against the national figure over the past decade. For someone starting out now, that history shows pay has moved up over time in this field, though past increases are not a guarantee of future ones.

Pay runs highest in Alexandria, where Physical Therapists typically earn $103,380 a year (about $49.70 an hour), about 5% above the statewide figure. Covington, Slidell, and Mandeville follow closely behind at $101,980 a year each. New Orleans and Metairie come next at $100,530, still above the statewide typical pay.

Pay runs lowest in Bayou Cane, at $78,320 a year ($37.65 an hour), a spread of $25,060 between the top and bottom of the state's city figures. New Orleans has the largest Physical Therapist workforce among Louisiana cities, with 710 employed there and typical pay of $100,530 a year ($48.33 an hour). These figures cover each city's full metro area, and lower pay in smaller markets usually tracks a lower cost of living.

Among Louisiana's neighbors, Texas pays the most, with Physical Therapists there typically earning $105,810 a year, about 7% higher than Louisiana. Mississippi runs close behind at $99,990, about 1% above Louisiana, while Arkansas is essentially even at $99,010. Physical therapy licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which can simplify a move for therapists weighing pay differences nearby.

Physical Therapists in Louisiana typically earn $98,530 a year, a figure that has risen 25% over the past decade according to government wage data. Pay varies by city and tends to run higher in places like Alexandria and lower in areas like Bayou Cane. Readers weighing a move or a new license should check Louisiana's state licensing board for requirements and review city-specific pages on this site for local figures before deciding where to practice.