Quick answer: Physical Therapists in the Jonesboro area earn a median $100,010 per year, below the national median of $102,760, and the metro employs about 190 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Jonesboro metro | Arkansas | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $100,010 | $99,010 | $102,760 |
| 10th percentile | $73,050 | $73,050 | $77,140 |
| 25th percentile | $80,120 | $81,260 | $86,160 |
| 75th percentile | $113,120 | $111,470 | $121,160 |
| 90th percentile | $123,010 | $127,210 | $135,140 |
| Employment | 190 | 2,680 | 267,330 |
| Location quotient | 1.82 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Jonesboro, AR metropolitan statistical area.
The Jonesboro median of $100,010 is below the national median of $102,760, and above the Arkansas statewide median of $99,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 1.82 means physical therapists are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Physical therapy demand tracks the local mix of outpatient orthopedic clinics, hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities and school districts.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock | $99,940 | 1,040 |
| Fayetteville | $104,500 | 430 |
| Fort Smith | $98,730 | 160 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Every state licenses physical therapists through its own board. The national constants are a degree from a program with accreditation from CAPTE, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the National Physical Therapy Examination administered through the FSBPT. Boards add their own requirements around jurisprudence exams, background checks and continuing competence, and rules for licensure by endorsement between states vary.
See the Arkansas licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with your state physical therapy licensing board.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 5 schools within 208 miles, closest group first, then ordered by BOC Score with the highest at the top. 5 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
The median annual wage for physical therapists in the Jonesboro, AR metro area is $100,010, below the national median of $102,760 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Jonesboro, AR metro area employs about 190 physical therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Every state licenses physical therapists through its own board. The national constants are a degree from a program with accreditation from CAPTE, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the National Physical Therapy Examination administered through the FSBPT. Boards add their own requirements around jurisprudence exams, background checks and continuing competence, and rules for licensure by endorsement between states vary. Confirm current requirements with your state physical therapy licensing board.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies your state physical therapy licensing board.
The Jonesboro metro median is $100,010 against a statewide median of $99,010 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
