AL · Tuscaloosa · Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist jobs in Tuscaloosa, AL

The median physical therapist pay in the Tuscaloosa area is $48.39 per hour ($100,640 a year), with the typical range running from $40.99 to $58.20. That ranks 151st of 375 U.S. metro areas for physical therapist pay, and 42nd of 338 once local prices are factored in. The CMS hospital directory lists 4 hospitals in Tuscaloosa. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Tuscaloosa.

More open Physical Therapist roles in Tuscaloosa

2 more open roles from employers in Tuscaloosa. Each employer’s range arrives with your free pay report.

PermanentPosted 13 days ago

Physical Therapist

DCH Health System · Tuscaloosa, AL

Pay range with your report
  • FULL_TIME
  • Req 14440
View role

Physical Therapist pay in Tuscaloosa, AL

The metro median is 4% above the Alabama statewide median of $46.65 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 120 physical therapists employed in the Tuscaloosa metro area, 1.1 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.69).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$34.89$72,57028% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$40.99$85,26016% below U.S. median
Median$48.39$100,640in line with U.S. median
Upper quartile$58.20$121,06020% above U.S. median
Top 10%$64.51$134,18033% above U.S. median

How Tuscaloosa ranks

  • 151st of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 42nd of 338 after adjusting for local prices
  • 1st of 8 Alabama metro areas

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

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Named employers near Tuscaloosa, what they pay and the roles open now. Free for candidates, email only.

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What your pay buys in Tuscaloosa

  • Overall prices in Tuscaloosa run 12% below the U.S. average (index 87.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 42% below the U.S. average (index 58.2).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $48.39 median hour buys what $55.16 buys at the national price level, 14% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Tuscaloosa paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,742
  • Per year: $87,102
  • Per month: $7,258

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Tuscaloosa metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Travel assignment per diem in Tuscaloosa

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$110
Meals and incidentals per day$68
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,246
13-week assignment$16,198

Travel physical therapist assignments commonly pay housing and meals stipends. The GSA per diem is the federal benchmark for what those stipends can be tax-free (this is the standard rate that applies here). Whether a stipend is tax-free for you depends on keeping a valid tax home, so confirm with your recruiter and a tax professional. Compare with your offer in the travel pay calculator.

Source: U.S. General Services Administration per diem rates, fiscal year 2026 (average across months).

Hospitals in Tuscaloosa

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Tuscaloosa, 0 of the 1 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physical therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Dch Regional Medical Center
Tuscaloosa, AL
Acute careGovernment and federal2 of 5Yes
Tuscaloosa Va Medical Center
Tuscaloosa, AL
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federalNot ratedNo
Bryce Hospital
Tuscaloosa, AL
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo
Mary S Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center
Tuscaloosa, AL
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedYes

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

Physical Therapist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Hoover, AL43 mi$46.88/hr93,013
Birmingham, AL47 mi$46.88/hr196,357
Montgomery, AL95 mi$45.23/hr195,818
Decatur, AL98 mi$46.93/hr57,974
Madison, AL111 mi$48.07/hr64,029
Huntsville, AL112 mi$48.07/hr230,402

Physical Therapist jobs in Alabama · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in Alabama

DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date.

Alabama taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

Alabama state guide

Other healthcare roles in Tuscaloosa

Tuscaloosa city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physical therapists make in Tuscaloosa, AL?

Physical Therapists in the Tuscaloosa metro area have a median pay of $48.39 per hour, about $100,640 a year. The middle half earn between $40.99 and $58.20 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Tuscaloosa a good place for physical therapists once cost of living is counted?

Tuscaloosa ranks 42nd of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 151st of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 12% below the U.S. average.

Where do physical therapists work in Tuscaloosa?

CMS lists 4 hospitals in Tuscaloosa, led by Dch Regional Medical Center. Ask for the free report to see current openings and pay.

Do I need a Alabama license to work in Tuscaloosa as a physical therapist?

DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what Alabama requires for your role with the Alabama licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

What is the per diem for a travel assignment in Tuscaloosa?

The federal per diem benchmark in Tuscaloosa is $110 a night for lodging and $68 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,246 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physical therapists in Tuscaloosa?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Tuscaloosa and across Alabama. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Tuscaloosa.

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What do employers near Tuscaloosa pay physical therapists? Get the report.

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The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval: Health Care Staffing Services Certification, since 2022American Staffing Association memberNATHO member: National Association of Travel Healthcare OrganizationsNALTO member: National Association of Locum Tenens Organizations

Pay report · PT near Tuscaloosa, AL
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PT pay reportTop-paying employers shown · your Alabama list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Amedisys Home Health of Alabama, LLC.Dothan, AL · 1 wage offer$64.41/ hr$64–$64
  • El Camino HealthMountain View, CA · 3 postings$73.08/ hr$63–$83
  • AmedisysPlymouth, MA · 3 postings$69.71/ hr$60–$85
  • NewYork-PresbyterianNew York · 4 postings$68.41/ hr$56–$81

Median pay per hour, with the range each employer published or reported in federal filings. Request your Alabama list

2What they are offering now

Low$36Median$49.00High$67

811 PT postings with published pay in the US, 672 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open PT roles

Open PT roles near Tuscaloosa, AL, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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