Average Physical Therapist Salary in Albuquerque, NM

The average Physical Therapist in Albuquerque, NM earns $98,490 per year. See how this compares to the national average and what it means for your budget.

Average Salary
$98490
Median Salary
$99670
vs. National
1.9% below
Real Pay (COL-adjusted)
$103081

“Real pay” adjusts the average for Albuquerque’s cost of living (Regional Price Parity 95.546, U.S. average = 100) — what this salary is worth in national-average dollars.

What Physical Therapists actually earn in Albuquerque

The spread from entry-level (10th percentile) to top earners (90th), from BLS wage data.

10th (entry) $68520
25th $78650
Median $99670
75th $119000
90th (top) $126130

650 Physical Therapists employed in the Albuquerque metro.

Can a Physical Therapist afford a home in Albuquerque?

Max home price under the 28% rule (housing ≤ 28% of gross), 10% down, 6.7% 30-yr rate. Median Albuquerque home: $266700.

Earnings levelSalaryMax homeMedian home?
Entry (10th)$68520$275299Yes
Median$99670$400453Yes
Top (90th)$126130$506764Yes

What’s this salary worth in another city?

What you earn (or want to compare)

Take-home pay for a Physical Therapist in Albuquerque

Estimated pay after federal, FICA, and NM state taxes (2026). Prefilled with the local average — adjust for your situation.

Estimate only — not tax advice. Tax year 2026, federal + FICA + state (single or married filing jointly). Excludes local/city income taxes (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia) and individual credits. See our methodology.

Albuquerque at a glance

Population562488
Median household income$65604
Median home value$266700
Median rent$1085/mo
Cost of living (RPP, U.S.=100)95.546
Bachelor’s degree or higher20.9%
Poverty rate15.8%

In Albuquerque, NM, Physical Therapists earn a median of $99,670 a year — about 1% below the U.S. median of $100,440. Among the 50 metros tracked here for this role, that ranks #30.

What that pay is worth in Albuquerque

Local prices run 96 on the BEA cost-of-living index (U.S. = 100), so a $98,490 salary stretches further than the sticker number — about $103,081 in national-average buying power.

Can Physical Therapists afford a home in Albuquerque?

A typical Albuquerque home runs about $266,700 — 2.7 times the average Physical Therapist salary, very affordable against the classic 3x rule of thumb. Median rent near $1,085/mo takes roughly 13% of gross pay — within the 30% comfort line.

The Physical Therapist pay ladder in Albuquerque

Entry-level (10th percentile) Physical Therapists earn about $68,520; the top 10% reach $126,130 — a $57,610 spread, moderate for this field. Most of that gap comes down to experience, employer, and how hard you negotiate.

The Physical Therapist job market in Albuquerque

Albuquerque employs roughly 650 Physical Therapists. It’s a sizable local market to build a career in.

Compare Albuquerque with other cities

See the full Physical Therapist salary by city ranking to weigh Albuquerque against the other metros on both pay and cost-adjusted value, or use the cost-of-living calculator to compare any two cities directly.

Frequently asked questions

How much do Physical Therapists make in Albuquerque?

The average Physical Therapist in Albuquerque, NM earns about $98,490 per year, 1.9% below the national average of $100,440.

What is the take-home pay for Physical Therapists in Albuquerque after taxes?

After federal and NM taxes, this $98,490 salary is worth about $74,622 a year - roughly $6,218 a month in take-home pay, an effective tax rate near 24%.

What do the highest-paid Physical Therapists earn in Albuquerque?

The top 10% of Physical Therapists in Albuquerque earn about $126,130 a year, versus about $68,520 for the bottom 10%.

Can Physical Therapists afford a home in Albuquerque?

A typical Albuquerque home runs about $266,700 - roughly 2.7x this salary, within reach by the classic 3x rule of thumb.

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