Data released in 2024 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that, as of May 2024, there were over 248,600 physical therapists (PTs) working in the United States. More than 60,500 physical therapists were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. as of May 2024. BLS data reveals the Southeast region to be a mostly subpar one for PT pay, where practitioners often earn less than the national average annual mean wage for physical therapists. Only three states in the region had an annual mean wage level for physical therapists that topped the profession's national average of $99,913, with more than half the states in the region ranking in the bottom half of all states for that pay metric. A deeper examination of BLS data from May 2024
reveals the following about physical therapist pay in the Southeastern U.S.:
 |
Physical Therapist Pay in the Southeastern U.S. |
| State | # Employed | Annual Mean Wages | Wage Rank* |
| AL | 2,750 | $97,890 | 31st |
| AR | 2,740 | $96,510 | 36th |
| FL | 17,050 | $94,690 | 41st |
| GA | 5,480 | $101,610 | 16th |
| KY | 3,570 | $93,370 | 46th |
| LA | 2,930 | $101,380 | 17th |
| MS | 2,070 | $95,090 | 39th |
| NC | 7,350 | $95,600 | 38th |
| SC | 4,170 | $96,630 | 35th |
| TN | 4,240 | $98,090 | 30th |
| VA | 6,700 | $102,990 | 13th |
| WV | 1,330 | $99,470 | 23rd |
| U.S. | 248,620 | $99,913 | ------- |
(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on August 18, 2026
