How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in North Dakota in 2026?

A typical Physical Therapist in North Dakota earns about $41.02 per hour ($85,330 per year), according to the latest government wage data (May 2025). That works out to roughly $7,111 a month and $1,641 a week, figures calculated from the annual pay. Those numbers describe typical pay in the state, not the full range of what Physical Therapists actually earn.

Nationally, Physical Therapists earn a typical $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour), so North Dakota pay runs 17% below that figure. Among the 51 states and the District of Columbia measured, North Dakota ranks 51st, the lowest in the country. About 830 Physical Therapists work in the state, a workforce size that puts these figures in scale. Lower pay in North Dakota tracks its lower cost of living compared with higher-cost states.

Entry-level positions in North Dakota typically offer around $36.20 an hour, or about $75,290 a year, for Physical Therapists just starting out. Pay tends to move toward the state's typical $85,330 figure within the first few years on the job. New graduates in outpatient clinics or hospital settings often start near this range before gaining experience.

Experienced Physical Therapists in North Dakota often earn upwards of $103,120 a year, and the top 10% make over $113,600. That leaves a spread of $38,310 between entry-level and top pay. Setting, years on the job, and which city someone works in all tend to separate the two ends of that range.

Physical Therapist pay in North Dakota has climbed from $73,010 in 2015 to $85,330 in 2025, a gain of $12,320. That's a 17% rise over the decade, though the path wasn't a straight line, with pay dipping in 2021 before climbing again in the years that followed.

That 17% gain trails the national decade rise of 22% for Physical Therapists across the country. Pay in North Dakota has moved up over the past ten years, though not as fast as the national trend, and nothing about the past guarantees future increases. Someone starting a career here now enters at a higher starting point than a decade ago.

Pay runs highest in Grand Forks, where Physical Therapists typically earn $88,670 a year ($42.63 an hour), about 4% above the state figure. Fargo follows close behind at $85,330 a year, matching the statewide typical pay, while Bismarck comes in a bit lower at $83,280. These figures reflect each city's full metro area, not just the city center.

Minot pays the least among the state's four listed cities, with Physical Therapists there earning $78,180 a year ($37.59 an hour), a spread of $10,490 between the highest and lowest city figures. Fargo has the largest Physical Therapist workforce in the state, with 350 employed there. Cities with higher pay often carry higher living costs, so a bigger paycheck doesn't always stretch further.

All three of North Dakota's neighbors pay Physical Therapists more. Minnesota leads at $102,010 a year, 20% higher than North Dakota, while South Dakota pays $92,660 (9% higher) and Montana pays $91,450 (7% higher). For someone weighing a move, the gap with Minnesota is the widest of the three. Physical therapy licenses can often be transferred or endorsed between neighboring states, which makes crossing the border for higher pay a realistic option.

Physical Therapist pay in North Dakota typically runs $85,330 a year ($41.02 an hour), up 17% over the past decade. That places the state below the national figure, though the gap tracks lower living costs in much of North Dakota. Anyone considering this path should check the state licensing or registry page for requirements and the city pages here for local pay figures before choosing where to work.