How Much Does a Physical Therapist Make in Charleston, SC in 2026?
Typical pay for Physical Therapists in Charleston, from federal wage data (May 2025), with the ten-year trend and how the city compares across South Carolina.
BLS OES May 2025 · Charleston · North Charleston metro area
A typical Physical Therapist in Charleston, South Carolina earns $48.82 per hour, or $101,550 per year, according to the latest government wage data for the area (May 2025). Calculated from the annual figure, that is roughly $8,463 a month. Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,000, and the top 10% of earners make over $126,780.
That pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $101,330 and 1% below the national figure of $102,760. Charleston ranks 4th of 10 metro areas in South Carolina for Physical Therapist pay. About 690 Physical Therapists work in the Charleston · North Charleston area. Charleston is part of the Charleston · North Charleston metro area, and BLS reports pay for the metro as a whole, so North Charleston share these figures.
Physical Therapist pay in Charleston at a glance
- Typical pay is $48.82 an hour, or $101,550 a year.
- That is right at the South Carolina figure, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state.
- Entry-level positions typically offer around $75,000; the top 10% make over $126,780.
- Typical pay rose +29% from 2015 to 2025, against +26% for South Carolina as a whole.
BLS OES May 2025
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Charleston?
Pay in Charleston runs from entry-level positions at around $36.06 an hour to more than $60.95 for the top 10% of earners. The table sets each career stage against the South Carolina and national figures.
Physical Therapist pay by career stage in Charleston
| Career stage | Charleston | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting out | $75,000$36.06 an hour | $72,810$35.01 an hour | $77,140$37.09 an hour |
| First years | $83,230$40.02 an hour | $81,850$39.35 an hour | $86,160$41.42 an hour |
| Typical Physical Therapist | $101,550$48.82 an hour | $101,330$48.72 an hour | $102,760$49.40 an hour |
| Experienced | $119,010$57.22 an hour | $111,860$53.78 an hour | $121,160$58.25 an hour |
| Top 10% | $126,780$60.95 an hour | $123,480$59.37 an hour | $135,140$64.97 an hour |
BLS OES May 2025 · city figures cover the Charleston · North Charleston area as BLS defines it
Physical Therapist pay growth in Charleston
Typical (median) annual wage for Physical Therapists in the Charleston · North Charleston area · BLS OES May estimates, 2015 to 2025 · hover a bar for the year-over-year change
In 2015, typical Physical Therapist pay in Charleston was $78,590 a year. By 2025 it had reached $101,550, a change of +29%, compared with +26% for South Carolina over the same years.
How Charleston compares with other South Carolina cities
Spartanburg pays Physical Therapists the most in South Carolina at $111,860 a year, $10,310 more than Charleston. The lowest-paying area in the state is Hilton Head Island at $96,940.
| # | City | Typical pay | Hourly | Vs Charleston | Physical Therapists employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spartanburg | $111,860 | $53.78 | +10% | 350 |
| 2 | Florence | $108,160 | $52.00 | +7% | 110 |
| 3 | Conway metro incl. Myrtle Beach · North Myrtle Beach | $102,480 | $49.27 | +1% | 240 |
| 4 | Charleston metro incl. North Charleston | $101,550 | $48.82 | this city | 690 |
| 5 | Concord metro incl. Gastonia | $101,060 | $48.59 | 0% | 1,680 |
| 6 | Greer metro incl. Anderson · Greenville | $101,020 | $48.57 | -1% | 940 |
| 7 | Sumter | $100,520 | $48.33 | -1% | 50 |
| 8 | Columbia | $99,840 | $48.00 | -2% | 670 |
| 9 | Richmond County | $97,260 | $46.76 | -4% | 330 |
| 10 | Port Royal metro incl. Bluffton · Hilton Head Island | $96,940 | $46.61 | -5% | 130 |
Every metro area in South Carolina with Physical Therapist wage data · BLS OES May 2025 · South Carolina typical pay $101,330
Is Charleston a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Physical Therapist pay in Charleston sits close to the national figure: $101,550 a year, 1% below the national rate. For every 1,000 jobs in the Charleston · North Charleston area, about 1.8 are Physical Therapist positions; nationally, the figure is closer to 1.7. Physical Therapist jobs make up about the same share of the job market as they do across the country.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Physical Therapist make in Charleston, SC?
- A typical Physical Therapist in Charleston earns $101,550 a year, or $48.82 an hour, according to BLS wage data for May 2025. Entry-level pay runs about $75,000 and the top 10% earn over $126,780.
- How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour in Charleston?
- Typical hourly pay for Physical Therapists in Charleston is $48.82. Entry-level hourly pay runs about $36.06, and the top 10% earn over $60.95 an hour.
- What is the starting pay for a Physical Therapist in Charleston?
- Entry-level Physical Therapist positions in Charleston typically offer around $36.06 an hour, or $75,000 a year.
- Is Physical Therapist pay in Charleston higher than in the rest of South Carolina?
- Charleston pay is right at the South Carolina figure of $101,330 a year, ranking 4th of 10 metro areas in the state. Spartanburg pays the most in South Carolina at $111,860.