Salary · NC · SOC 31-2021

Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) salary in North Carolina, per year and per hour

BLS data for May 2025. Median, mean, and percentile pay for physical therapist assistants in North Carolina, with every metro area BLS publishes.

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, released May 15, 2026. Publisher page

Quick answer

The median pay for physical therapist assistants in North Carolina was $67,540 a year, or $32.47 an hour, in May 2025 (BLS). The middle 80% earned $56,100 to $80,850. About 3,280 were employed.

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Physical Therapist Assistant pay in North Carolina vs the US

Physical Therapist Assistant wages in North Carolina and the US, May 2025
Measure	NC annual	NC hourly	US annual
Median (50th percentile)	$67,540	$32.47	$68,380
Mean (average)	$68,790	$33.07	$68,730
10th percentile	$56,100	$26.97	$47,750
25th percentile	$62,310	$29.96	$59,820
75th percentile	$76,520	$36.79	$78,680
90th percentile	$80,850	$38.87	$89,510

Employment in North Carolina: 3,280. Location quotient: 0.92 (1.0 = the national share of jobs).

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

Physical Therapist Assistant salary by metro area in North Carolina

Physical Therapist Assistant median wage by metro area, North Carolina
Metro area	Median annual	Median hourly	Employed
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$70,720	$34.00	870
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$67,890	$32.64	390
Wilmington, NC	$75,820	$36.45	220
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$64,610	$31.06	190
Winston-Salem, NC	$64,660	$31.09	180
Asheville, NC	$63,860	$30.70	140
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	$63,800	$30.67	140
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	$73,970	$35.56	130
Fayetteville, NC	$64,520	$31.02	130
Greenville, NC	$63,900	$30.72	80
Rocky Mount, NC	$65,220	$31.36	70
Burlington, NC	$76,010	$36.54	40
Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	$62,350	$29.98	40
Goldsboro, NC	$69,150	$33.24	30
Jacksonville, NC	$61,780	$29.70	30
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$73,300	$35.24	790

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Publisher page

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Physical Therapist Assistant salary in North Carolina

Median pay: $67,540 a year ($32.47 an hour)

Middle 80% earn $56,100 to $80,850 a year

Employed: 3,280

BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: Rivvi

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<div style="font:14px/1.45 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#222;border:1px solid #E6E6EE;border-radius:12px;padding:14px 16px;max-width:360px;background:#fff"><div style="font-weight:600;font-size:15px;margin-bottom:6px">Physical Therapist Assistant salary in North Carolina</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Median pay: <strong>$67,540</strong> a year ($32.47 an hour)</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Middle 80% earn $56,100 to $80,850 a year</div><div style="margin:2px 0">Employed: 3,280</div><div style="margin-top:8px;font-size:12px;color:#555">BLS OEWS, May 2025. Source: <a href="https://rivvi.ai/salary/physical-therapist-assistant/nc" style="color:#3C38C9">Rivvi</a></div></div>

Questions

How much does a PTA make per hour in North Carolina?

The median hourly wage was $32.47 in May 2025, per BLS. The 10th percentile was $26.97 and the 90th was $38.87.

What is the average PTA salary in North Carolina?

BLS reports a mean (average) of $68,790 a year and a median of $67,540 for May 2025. The median is the middle wage; the mean is pulled up by the highest earners.

Do physical therapist assistants in North Carolina earn more than the US median?

The North Carolina median of $67,540 is 1% lower than the US median of $68,380 (BLS, May 2025).

How does North Carolina rank for physical therapist assistant pay?

North Carolina ranks 18 of 51 states (plus DC) by median annual wage for physical therapist assistants (BLS, May 2025).

Where do these numbers come from?

The BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates, SOC 31-2021. Figures BLS did not publish are left out.