How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Wilmington, NC in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Wilmington, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across North Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Wilmington metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Wilmington, North Carolina earns $47.49 per hour, or $98,770 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,231 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,470, and the top 10% of earners make over $121,570.
That pay is 1% below the North Carolina figure of $99,910 and 4% below the national figure of $102,760. Wilmington ranks 12th of 16 metro areas in North Carolina for Physical Therapist pay. About 460 Physical Therapists work in the Wilmington area.
Physical Therapist pay in Wilmington at a glance
- Typical pay is $47.49 an hour, or $98,770 a year.
- That is 1% below the North Carolina figure, ranking 12th of 16 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,470; the top 10% make over $121,570.
- Typical pay rose +20% from 2015 to 2025, against +24% for North Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Wilmington?
Pay in Wilmington runs from entry-level positions at around $36.28 an hour to more than $58.45 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the North Carolina and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Wilmington
| Career stage | Wilmington | North Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $75,470$36.28 an hour | $78,020$37.51 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $80,940$38.92 an hour | $84,080$40.42 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $98,770$47.49 an hour | $99,910$48.03 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $106,670$51.28 an hour | $110,330$53.04 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $121,570$58.45 an hour | $125,940$60.55 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Wilmington area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Wilmington
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Wilmington area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Wilmington was $82,240 a year. By 2025 it had reached $98,770, a change of +20%, compared with +24% for North Carolina over the same years.
How Wilmington compares with other North Carolina cities
Rocky Mount pays Physical Therapists the most in North Carolina at $103,030 a year, $4,260 more than Wilmington. The lowest-paying area in the state is Goldsboro at $89,210.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Wilmington | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rocky Mount | $103,030 | $49.54 | +4% | 80 |
| 2 | Hickory | $101,950 | $49.01 | +3% | 160 |
| 3 | Winston metro incl. Salem | $101,270 | $48.69 | +3% | 510 |
| 4 | Burlington | $101,120 | $48.62 | +2% | 100 |
| 5 | Charlotte | $101,060 | $48.59 | +2% | 1,680 |
| 6 | Norfolk metro incl. Chesapeake | $100,840 | $48.48 | +2% | 1,470 |
| 7 | Durham metro incl. Chapel Hill | $100,240 | $48.19 | +1% | 790 |
| 8 | Fayetteville | $100,120 | $48.13 | +1% | 220 |
| 9 | Raleigh metro incl. Cary | $99,900 | $48.03 | +1% | 1,190 |
| 10 | Asheville | $99,480 | $47.83 | +1% | 300 |
| 11 | High Point metro incl. Greensboro | $99,320 | $47.75 | +1% | 540 |
| 12 | Wilmington | $98,770 | $47.49 | this city | 460 |
| 13 | Greenville | $98,020 | $47.12 | -1% | 190 |
| 14 | Jacksonville | $95,190 | $45.76 | -4% | 80 |
| 15 | Southern Pines metro incl. Pinehurst | $94,400 | $45.39 | -4% | 100 |
| 16 | Goldsboro | $89,210 | $42.89 | -10% | 50 |
Every metro area in North Carolina with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · North Carolina typical pay $99,910
Is Wilmington a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Wilmington sits close to the national figure: $98,770 a year, 4% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Wilmington area, about 2.4 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. That makes the local economy more reliant on Physical Therapists than most places, and turnover keeps positions opening through the year.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Wilmington, NC?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Wilmington earns $98,770 a year, or $47.49 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $75,470 and the top 10% earn over $121,570.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Wilmington?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Wilmington is $47.49. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.28, and the top 10% earn over $58.45 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Wilmington?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Wilmington typically offer around $36.28 an hour, or $75,470 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Wilmington higher than in the rest of North Carolina?
- Wilmington pay is 1% below the North Carolina figure of $99,910 a year, ranking 12th of 16 metro areas in the state. Rocky Mount pays the most in North Carolina at $103,030.