Updated October 15, 2026

Physical Therapist salary in Kentucky

Physical Therapists in Kentucky earn a median of $46.88 per hour, about $97,500 a year, 3% below the U.S. median of $48.57. The middle half earn between $37.61 and $52.11 per hour. The highest median among Kentucky metro areas is in Elizabethtown, KY, at $48.16 per hour. Source: BLS, May 2024.

Physical Therapist pay in Kentucky: percentiles

LevelKentucky per hourKentucky per yearU.S. per hour
Lowest 10%$29.71$61,800$35.78
Lower quartile$37.61$78,230$40.13
Median$46.88$97,500$48.57
Upper quartile$52.11$108,390$56.34
Top 10%$58.46$121,600$63.70

Physical Therapist pay by metro area in Kentucky

Metro areaMedian / hrMedian / yearEmployedvs Kentucky medianAfter cost of living
Elizabethtown, KY$48.16$100,180703% above$53.17
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$47.54$98,8801,3001% above$51.08
Paducah, KY-IL$47.40$98,590801% above$55.06
Bowling Green, KY$46.88$97,500180in line with$51.99
Owensboro, KY$45.41$94,460903% below$51.25
Lexington-Fayette, KY$41.40$86,11055012% below$44.57

Metro areas with 30 or more workers in the BLS sample. After cost of living divides the median by the BEA regional price index (U.S. = 100).

Physical Therapist pay in states next to Kentucky

StateMedian / hrMedian / yearCompared with Kentucky
Illinois$49.70$103,3806% above Kentucky
Indiana$47.75$99,3102% above Kentucky
Missouri$45.07$93,7504% below Kentucky
Ohio$47.95$99,7402% above Kentucky
Tennessee$48.40$100,6603% above Kentucky
Virginia$48.42$100,7103% above Kentucky
West Virginia$48.66$101,2104% above Kentucky

What employers are posting in Kentucky

  • 31roles with published pay
  • $40.14median pay per hour
  • $35–$46typical published range
  • 3employers hiring
EmployerRolesMedian pay / hour
Select Medical26$40.14
CommonSpirit Health4$47.56
BrightSpring Health Services1$40.87

Midpoints of pay ranges in 31 postings collected October 15, 2026. Posted pay is a different measure from the BLS survey above and can run higher or lower.

Physical Therapist jobs in Kentucky · Physical Therapist salary nationwide · Kentucky state guide

Common questions

How much does a physical therapist make in Kentucky?

The median is $46.88 per hour, about $97,500 a year. The lowest 10% earn under $29.71 and the top 10% earn over $58.46 (BLS, May 2024).

Which Kentucky city pays physical therapists the most?

Among Kentucky metro areas, Elizabethtown, KY has the highest median at $48.16 per hour. See the metro table for the rest and for pay after cost of living.

Where does Kentucky rank for physical therapist pay?

Kentucky ranks 36th of 50 states by median physical therapist pay.

Is this the same as the pay in job postings?

No. BLS figures come from a survey of employers and cover all workers in the occupation. Posted pay is the range an employer lists on one open role. Both are useful: use the survey for the market and the posting for a specific job.

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Pay report · PT near Kentucky
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Your PT pay reportKentucky · pay published by employers and employer-reported wage offers in federal filings

1Pay for your role at other employers

  • CommonSpirit HealthBEREA, KY · 4 postings$47.56/ hr$36–$64
  • SN Kentuckiana Rehab, LLCElizabethtown, KY · 1 wage offer$40.62/ hr$35–$46
  • Select MedicalLouisville, KY · 26 postings$40.14/ hr$35–$55
  • Kentucky Orthopedic Rehabilitation, LLCGeorgetown, KY · 1 wage offer$37.02/ hr$35–$39

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

2What they are offering now

Low$35Median$40.14High$46

31 PT postings with published pay in Kentucky, 27 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open now: 31 PT roles

  1. Physical TherapistPermanent
    $40.95–$60.91/ hour
    CommonSpirit Health · Bardstown, KY · posted 3 days ago
  2. PRN or Part Time Physical Therapist - KORT- Madisonville, KYPer diem
    $37.00–$55.00/ hour
    Select Medical · Madisonville, KY · posted 3 days ago

+ 29 more in your report. Each one has pay, shift and start date.

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