Physical Therapist Assistants pay range in Hickory
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,660 a year or less, while the top 10% make $77,530 or more. The middle half of physical therapist assistants in Hickory earn between $61,000 and $72,870.
- $55K10th
- $61K25th
- $64KMedian
- $73K75th
- $78K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,970 | $5,498 | $31.72 |
| Median | $63,800 | $5,317 | $30.67 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,870 | $6,072 | $35.03 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physical Therapist Assistants pay in Hickory vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Physical therapist assistants in Hickory earn 4% less than the North Carolina average ($68,790) and 4% less than the U.S. average ($68,730). At the median the gap is -7% against the U.S. median of $68,380.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory | $65,970 | $63,800 | $54,660 | $77,530 | 140 |
| 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 Hickory
On the average salary of $65,970, a single filer in Hickory takes home about $53,063 a year, or $4,422 a month and $2,041 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Hickory a good place for physical therapist assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Hickory area are 12% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 88.5), so the average $65,970 buys what about $74,554 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Hickory ($45,220). A typical home costs $271,739, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Therapist Assistants salary in other North Carolina cities
Hickory ranks 11th 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
- Hickory$65,970
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 Hickory: questions
How much do physical therapist assistants make an hour in Hickory?
$31.72 an hour on average, and $30.67 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physical therapist assistants salary in Hickory?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $54,660 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,000, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physical therapist assistants take-home pay in Hickory?
About $53,063 a year ($4,422 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,970.
Do physical therapist assistants earn more in Hickory than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% less 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC (25860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.0%.
- 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 1.27, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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