How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Joplin, MO in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Joplin, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across Missouri.
BLS OES May 2025 · Joplin metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Joplin, Missouri earns $48.15 per hour, or $100,150 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,346 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,080, and the top 10% of earners make over $123,140.
That pay is 1% above the Missouri figure of $99,310 and 3% below the national figure of $102,760. Joplin ranks 4th of 8 metro areas in Missouri for Physical Therapist pay. About 130 Physical Therapists work in the Joplin area.
Physical Therapist pay in Joplin at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.15 an hour, or $100,150 a year.
- That is 1% above the Missouri figure, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $76,080; the top 10% make over $123,140.
- Typical pay rose +32% from 2015 to 2025, against +30% for Missouri as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Joplin?
Pay in Joplin runs from entry-level positions at around $36.58 an hour to more than $59.20 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the Missouri and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Joplin
| Career stage | Joplin | Missouri | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $76,080$36.58 an hour | $76,110$36.59 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $82,170$39.50 an hour | $80,910$38.90 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $100,150$48.15 an hour | $99,310$47.75 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $107,820$51.84 an hour | $109,880$52.83 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $123,140$59.20 an hour | $124,530$59.87 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Joplin area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Joplin
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Joplin area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Joplin was $75,990 a year. By 2025 it had reached $100,150, a change of +32%, compared with +30% for Missouri over the same years.
How Joplin compares with other Missouri cities
Kansas City pays Physical Therapists the most in Missouri at $101,270 a year, $1,120 more than Joplin. The lowest-paying area in the state is Columbia at $83,320.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Joplin | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kansas City | $101,270 | $48.69 | +1% | 2,010 |
| 2 | St. Louis | $100,600 | $48.37 | 0% | 2,480 |
| 3 | Cape Girardeau | $100,420 | $48.28 | 0% | 100 |
| 4 | Joplin | $100,150 | $48.15 | this city | 130 |
| 5 | St. Joseph | $99,310 | $47.75 | -1% | 90 |
| 6 | Jefferson City | $98,070 | $47.15 | -2% | 90 |
| 7 | Springfield | $97,270 | $46.77 | -3% | 410 |
| 8 | Columbia | $83,320 | $40.06 | -17% | 280 |
Every metro area in Missouri with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · Missouri typical pay $99,310
Is Joplin a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Joplin sits close to the national figure: $100,150 a year, 3% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Joplin area, about 1.5 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.8. That makes Physical Therapists a smaller part of the local job market than usual, so employers draw from a smaller pool of qualified candidates.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Joplin, MO?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Joplin earns $100,150 a year, or $48.15 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $76,080 and the top 10% earn over $123,140.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Joplin?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Joplin is $48.15. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.58, and the top 10% earn over $59.20 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Joplin?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Joplin typically offer around $36.58 an hour, or $76,080 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Joplin higher than in the rest of Missouri?
- Joplin pay is 1% above the Missouri figure of $99,310 a year, ranking 4th of 8 metro areas in the state. Kansas City pays the most in Missouri at $101,270.