Physical Therapist Salary in Atlanta, GA
Physical Therapists in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area earn a median $103,440 a year — 1% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $76,854 take-home, or $6,405 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physical therapist salary in Atlanta, GA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$13,927
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,413
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,500
- Georgia income tax$4,746
- Take-home pay$76,854
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 5.19% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Physical Therapist pay by experience in Atlanta, GA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,280 | $39.08 | $62,415 | $5,201 |
| 25th percentile | $84,290 | $40.52 | $64,376 | $5,365 |
| Median (50th) | $103,440 | $49.73 | $76,854 | $6,405 |
| 75th percentile | $120,660 | $58.01 | $88,075 | $7,340 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $132,100 | $63.51 | $95,323 | $7,944 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Georgia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $103,440 buys in Atlanta, GA
Prices in Atlanta, GA are 0.1% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.11× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physical therapist's $76,854 take-home pay has the buying power of $76,810 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Physical Therapist jobs are about as common in Atlanta, GA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.85).
Best-paying cities for physical therapists, adjusted for cost of living
Atlanta, GA ranks #10 of 21 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston, TX | $107,700 | $84,597 | $85,773 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $141,980 | $97,489 | $84,324 |
| 3 | Austin, TX | $103,630 | $81,734 | $83,346 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $103,770 | $78,800 | $82,345 |
| 5 | Dallas, TX | $107,780 | $84,653 | $82,116 |
| 6 | Tampa, FL | $102,430 | $80,890 | $80,176 |
| 7 | St. Louis, MO | $100,600 | $75,811 | $79,727 |
| 8 | Philadelphia, PA | $105,790 | $80,006 | $78,013 |
| 10 | Atlanta, GA | $103,440 | $76,854 | $76,810 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 21 metros →
About the job: physical therapists
Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +11.9% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical therapist make in Atlanta, GA?
The median physical therapist salary in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area is $103,440 a year, or about $49.73 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $84,290 and $120,660.
What is a physical therapist’s take-home pay in Atlanta, GA?
On the median $103,440 salary, a single filer living in Georgia takes home about $76,854 a year ($6,405 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $4,746 in Georgia taxes in 2026.
Is Atlanta, GA a good place to work as a physical therapist?
Pay here is 1% above the national median of $102,760. Local prices are 0.1% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $76,810 would in a typical U.S. city. Atlanta, GA ranks #10 of 21 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physical therapist afford rent in Atlanta, GA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Atlanta, GA is $1,646 a month ($1,806 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median physical therapist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Atlanta, GA
- Physicians, All Other — $239,200+
- Pharmacist — $139,870
- Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other — $133,060
- Nurse Practitioner — $132,500
- Physician Assistant — $111,810
- Speech-Language Pathologist — $102,860
- Registered Nurse — $100,490
- Dental Hygienist — $100,370
- Respiratory Therapist — $95,520
- Radiologic Technologist and Technician — $80,710
- Surgical Technologist — $67,570
- Clinical Laboratory Technologist and Technician — $65,530