Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$77,140
- 25th Percentile — Junior$86,160
- 50th Percentile — Median$102,760
- 75th Percentile — Senior$121,160
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$135,140
The top 10% of Physical Therapists earn $135,140 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $77,140, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| California | $122,580 | +16.4% |
| Nevada | $120,700 | +14.6% |
| Alaska | $115,830 | +10.0% |
| New Jersey | $114,550 | +8.8% |
| District of Columbia | $112,400 | +6.8% |
| Maryland | $110,700 | +5.1% |
| New Mexico | $110,060 | +4.5% |
| Texas | $109,270 | +3.8% |
| Illinois | $109,080 | +3.6% |
| Washington | $108,550 | +3.1% |
| Delaware | $108,470 | +3.0% |
| Arizona | $107,360 | +2.0% |
| Massachusetts | $106,900 | +1.5% |
| Oregon | $106,510 | +1.2% |
| Connecticut | $105,460 | +0.2% |
| Virginia | $104,070 | -1.1% |
| Colorado | $103,870 | -1.3% |
| Georgia | $103,240 | -1.9% |
| New York | $102,740 | -2.4% |
| Ohio | $102,740 | -2.4% |
| Rhode Island | $102,520 | -2.6% |
| Indiana | $102,240 | -2.9% |
| Minnesota | $102,240 | -2.9% |
| Wisconsin | $102,210 | -2.9% |
| Pennsylvania | $101,650 | -3.4% |
| Hawaii | $101,050 | -4.0% |
| Michigan | $100,630 | -4.4% |
| Alabama | $100,190 | -4.8% |
| North Carolina | $100,010 | -5.0% |
| Utah | $99,790 | -5.2% |
| Wyoming | $99,480 | -5.5% |
| Kentucky | $99,190 | -5.8% |
| Missouri | $98,700 | -6.2% |
| Florida | $98,510 | -6.4% |
| New Hampshire | $98,420 | -6.5% |
| Tennessee | $98,260 | -6.7% |
| Arkansas | $98,120 | -6.8% |
| South Carolina | $98,100 | -6.8% |
| Maine | $97,950 | -7.0% |
| Oklahoma | $97,520 | -7.4% |
| Louisiana | $97,250 | -7.6% |
| West Virginia | $96,880 | -8.0% |
| Mississippi | $96,850 | -8.0% |
| Idaho | $96,830 | -8.0% |
| Nebraska | $95,890 | -8.9% |
| Vermont | $95,870 | -8.9% |
| Kansas | $95,540 | -9.3% |
| Iowa | $94,780 | -10.0% |
| Montana | $93,440 | -11.2% |
| South Dakota | $93,200 | -11.5% |
| North Dakota | $92,480 | -12.2% |
What Factors Affect Physical Therapists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Physical Therapists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $122,580, while North Dakota pays $92,480 — a gap of $30,100 per year.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Physical Therapists typically earn $77,140–$86,160 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $121,160–$135,140 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Physical Therapists role currently has high demand in the job market with a 4.2% growth rate, making it one of the most growing careers in the Healthcare sector.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Compare with Similar Jobs
Related career salary benchmarks
- Registered Nurses $101,420/yr United States 3.7% vs this role
- Nurse Practitioners $137,300/yr United States +30.4% vs this role
- Pharmacists $140,920/yr United States +33.9% vs this role
- Speech-Language Pathologists $98,170/yr United States 6.8% vs this role
- Occupational Therapists $101,280/yr United States 3.8% vs this role
- Licensed Practical Nurses $67,050/yr United States 36.3% vs this role
- Software Developers $148,100/yr United States +40.7% vs this role
- Information Security Analysts $132,510/yr United States +25.9% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Physical Therapists?
The average salary for Physical Therapists in the United States is $105,280 per year, with a median of $102,760.
What is the starting salary for Physical Therapists?
Entry-level Physical Therapists typically earn between $77,140 and $86,160 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Physical Therapists the most?
California pays Physical Therapists the most at $122,580 per year on average, followed by Nevada ($120,700) and Alaska ($115,830).
How much do Physical Therapists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $105,280, Physical Therapists earn approximately $50.62 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Physical Therapists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 267,330 Physical Therapists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $105,280 and a median of $102,760 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
Related Salary Pages
Explore more salary data