SC · Columbia · Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist jobs in Columbia, SC

The median physical therapist pay in the Columbia area is $48.41 per hour ($100,690 a year), with the typical range running from $39.14 to $51.22. 2 open roles with published pay are listed for Columbia. The CMS hospital directory lists 6 hospitals in Columbia. Tell us your role and we email current openings near Columbia.

Open Physical Therapist roles in Columbia

More open Physical Therapist roles in Columbia

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

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

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Who is hiring physical therapists near Columbia

EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
BrightSpring Health Services1$54.50
Amedisys1$54.33

Physical Therapist pay in Columbia, SC

The metro median is in line with the South Carolina statewide median of $48.54 per hour. Nationally the median is $48.57 per hour. BLS counts about 620 physical therapists employed in the Columbia metro area, 1.6 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is about as concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 1.00).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$32.15$66,87034% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$39.14$81,41019% below U.S. median
Median$48.41$100,690in line with U.S. median
Upper quartile$51.22$106,5405% above U.S. median
Top 10%$55.82$116,11015% above U.S. median

How Columbia ranks

  • 150th of 375 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 130th of 338 after adjusting for local prices
  • 5th of 8 South Carolina 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.

What your pay buys in Columbia

  • Overall prices in Columbia run 6% below the U.S. average (index 93.7, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 21% below the U.S. average (index 79.5).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $48.41 median hour buys what $51.69 buys at the national price level, 6% 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 Columbia paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,743
  • Per year: $87,138
  • Per month: $7,261

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

Travel assignment per diem in Columbia

ItemFederal rate
Lodging per night$115
Meals and incidentals per day$74
Per week (7 nights, 7 days)$1,323
13-week assignment$17,199

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. 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 Columbia

CMS lists 6 hospitals in Columbia, 3 of the 5 rated ones with 4 or 5 stars. Hospitals are a major employer of physical therapists.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Columbia Sc Va Medical Center
Columbia, SC
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal5 of 5Yes
Prisma Health Baptist
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Prisma Health Baptist Parkridge
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit4 of 5Yes
Musc Health Columbia Medical Center Downtown
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
Prisma Health Richland Hospital
Columbia, SC
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
G Werber Bryan Psych Hosp
Columbia, SC
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

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
Rock Hill, SC62 mi$48.23/hr75,798
Charlotte, NC81 mi$48.23/hr943,476
Augusta, GA82 mi$46.16/hr201,737
Summerville, SC83 mi$48.57/hr52,625
Gastonia, NC85 mi$48.23/hr85,535
Goose Creek, SC89 mi$48.57/hr50,352

Physical Therapist jobs in South Carolina · Physical Therapist jobs nationwide

License and tax basics in South Carolina

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

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

South Carolina state guide

Other healthcare roles in Columbia

Columbia city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do physical therapists make in Columbia, SC?

Physical Therapists in the Columbia metro area have a median pay of $48.41 per hour, about $100,690 a year. The middle half earn between $39.14 and $51.22 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

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

Columbia ranks 130th of 338 metro areas for physical therapist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 150th of 375 before adjusting. Overall prices run 6% below the U.S. average.

Who is hiring physical therapists in Columbia?

We list 2 open roles with published pay from 2 employers in Columbia. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Columbia.

Do I need a South Carolina license to work in Columbia as a physical therapist?

DPT degree. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what South Carolina requires for your role with the South Carolina 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 Columbia?

The federal per diem benchmark in Columbia is $115 a night for lodging and $74 a day for meals and incidentals, about $1,323 a week (GSA, fiscal year 2026). Your actual stipend depends on the assignment and your tax home.

Does Valorem Health place physical therapists in Columbia?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Columbia and across South Carolina. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Columbia.

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

Tell us your role and city. Within 24 hours you get an email with three things, by employer name. It costs you nothing, because employers pay us.

  1. 1
    Pay for your role at other hospitals

    The hourly pay at named employers near you, so you see who pays most.

  2. 2
    What they are offering now

    The pay range and median across current postings, and how many were posted this month.

  3. 3
    Roles open for you right now

    Every current opening near you with pay, shift and start date. Reply with one click.

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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 Columbia, SC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your PT pay reportColumbia, SC · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • Humana Inc.Columbia, SC · 1 wage offer$59.03/ hr$49–$69
  • Humana Inc.Orangeburg, SC · 1 wage offer$57.74/ hr$48–$68
  • AmedisysAiken, SC · 7 postings$56.00/ hr$41–$69
  • Amedisys Holding LLCAiken, SC · 1 wage offer$50.01/ hr$50–$50

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

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$54.33High$62

11 PT postings with published pay in South Carolina, 9 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 11 PT roles

  1. Physical Therapist Home Health $20K Sign on BonusPermanent
    $115k–$128k/ year
    Amedisys · Aiken, SC · posted 2 days ago
  2. PT Physical Therapist Home Health $5K Sign on BonusPermanent
    $51.00–$61.00/ hour
    Amedisys · Johnston, SC · posted 2 days ago

+ 9 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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