Data released in 2023 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that, as of May 2022, there were over 229,700 physical therapists (PTs) working in the United States.  More than 55,200 physical therapists were employed in the twelve-state Southeastern U.S. as of May 2022.  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.  No state in the region had an annual mean wage level for physical therapists that topped the profession's national average of $97,960, 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 2022 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	2,470	$97,120	13th
AR	1,930	$93,160	26th
FL	14,970	$91,730	34th
GA	5,990	$96,670	16th
KY	3,420	$86,220	49th
LA	2,910	$95,820	23rd
MS	1,820	$96,520	17th
NC	6,720	$92,200	30th
SC	3,110	$88,170	45th
TN	4,140	$91,630	35th
VA	6,610	$96,900	14th
WV	1,170	$93,000	28th
U.S.	229,740	$97,960	-------

(*) annual mean wage ranking among the 50 states and the District of Columbia

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OES. Data extracted on January 15, 2024