Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in Durham
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,470 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in Durham earn between $64,790 and $77,360.
- $55K10th
- $65K25th
- $74KMedian
- $77K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $71,490 | $5,958 | $34.37 |
| Median | $73,970 | $6,164 | $35.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,790 | $5,399 | $31.15 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $77,360 | $6,447 | $37.19 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in Durham vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Physical therapist assistants in Durham earn 4% more than the North Carolina average ($68,790) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($68,730). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $68,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | $71,490 | $73,970 | $55,230 | $85,470 | 130 |
| North Carolina | $68,790 | $67,540 | $56,100 | $80,850 | 3,280 |
| United States | $68,730 | $68,380 | $47,750 | $89,510 | 112,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary after taxes in Durham
On the average salary of $71,490, a single filer in Durham takes home about $56,779 a year, or $4,732 a month and $2,184 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Durham a good place for physical therapist assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Durham area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 97.6), so the average $71,490 buys what about $73,269 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Durham ($60,720). A typical home costs $414,340, or 5.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Durham ranks 3rd of 15 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Burlington pays the most ($72,380).
- Burlington$72,380
- Wilmington$71,990
- Durham$71,490
- Raleigh$71,260
- Charlotte$70,870
- Rocky Mount$68,440
- Greensboro$67,880
- Fayetteville$66,970
- Winston-Salem$66,780
- Greenville$66,270
All Physical Therapist Assistants salaries in North Carolina
Highest-paying cities for physical therapist assistants
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($94,690).
- San Jose, CA$94,690
- San Francisco, CA$93,600
- Santa Cruz, CA$89,020
- Bakersfield, CA$87,150
- Santa Rosa, CA$86,840
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Physical Therapist Assistants salary in Durham: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in Durham?
$34.37 an hour on average, and $35.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in Durham?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in Durham?
About $56,779 a year ($4,732 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $71,490.
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in Durham than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($68,730).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 31-2021; area Durham-Chapel Hill, NC (20500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.51, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.51).
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