How much do physical therapists make?
Answer
Physical therapists in the US earned a median of $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned $86,160 to $121,160.
- Median annual pay
- $102,760
- Mean $105,280
- Median hourly pay
- $49.40
- Mean $50.62
- Typical range (10th–90th)
- $77.1K–$135K
- $77,140 to $135,140
- US jobs
- 267,330
- +11.9% projected, 2025–35
BLS OEWS, May 2025, released April 30, 2026. Wages include tips, commissions and production bonuses but not overtime premiums, shift differentials, other bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers are not included. Methodology
How to become a physical therapist: steps, years and cost · Best-paying state after cost of living: New Mexico
Physical Therapist pay range
Annual wages, May 2025
- 10th percentile$77,140
- 25th percentile$86,160
- Median$102,760
- 75th percentile$121,160
- 90th percentile$135,140
Half of all physical therapists earned more than $102,760 and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% made under $77,140; the top 10% made over $135,140. The middle 50%, from the 25th to the 75th percentile, ran from $86,160 to $121,160.
These percentiles describe everyone in the occupation at one time. They are not pay steps by years of experience: they mix new and senior workers, different states, employers and hours. Pay generally rises with experience, credentials and specialization, but BLS does not publish pay by experience.
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $77,140 | $37.09 | $6,428 |
| 25th | $86,160 | $41.42 | $7,180 |
| Median (50th) | $102,760 | $49.40 | $8,563 |
| 75th | $121,160 | $58.25 | $10,097 |
| 90th | $135,140 | $64.97 | $11,262 |
| Mean (average) | $105,280 | $50.62 | $8,773 |
Physical Therapist salary by state
Median annual pay; cost of living from BEA regional price parities 2024
Highest-paying states
- 1. California $124,190
- 2. Alaska $115,280
- 3. New Jersey $112,140
- 4. Nevada $111,250
- 5. Maryland $106,890
Lowest-paying states
- 51. North Dakota $85,330
- 50. Montana $91,450
- 49. South Dakota $92,660
- 48. West Virginia $96,600
- 47. Nebraska $97,090
Best after cost of living: New Mexico. Its median of $106,880 is worth about $115,907 at national-average prices, more than in California once prices are counted.
| Alabama | $97,290 | 46 | $109,532 | 12 | $46.77 | 3,040 | 1.44 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $115,280 | 2 | $112,623 | 4 | $55.43 | 680 | 2.10 |
| Arizona | $103,220 | 13 | $102,526 | 33 | $49.62 | 5,170 | 1.60 |
| Arkansas | $99,010 | 39 | $113,887 | 3 | $47.60 | 2,680 | 2.06 |
| California | $124,190 | 1 | $112,166 | 6 | $59.71 | 26,580 | 1.46 |
| Colorado | $102,030 | 17 | $99,008 | 41 | $49.05 | 5,630 | 1.96 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 | 10 | $100,724 | 37 | $50.17 | 4,060 | 2.40 |
| Delaware | $102,050 | 16 | $102,246 | 34 | $49.06 | 1,260 | 2.60 |
| District of Columbia | $101,640 | 21 | $92,483 | 51 | $48.87 | 610 | 0.86 |
| Florida | $101,040 | 26 | $97,704 | 44 | $48.58 | 16,290 | 1.64 |
| Georgia | $102,700 | 15 | $106,654 | 23 | $49.38 | 6,780 | 1.39 |
| Hawaii | $101,700 | 20 | $92,496 | 50 | $48.90 | 950 | 1.52 |
| Idaho | $99,000 | 40 | $103,671 | 29 | $47.60 | 1,030 | 1.21 |
| Illinois | $105,250 | 9 | $105,294 | 25 | $50.60 | 9,800 | 1.61 |
| Indiana | $101,560 | 22 | $108,819 | 17 | $48.83 | 6,130 | 1.92 |
| Iowa | $97,560 | 45 | $111,164 | 10 | $46.90 | 2,530 | 1.63 |
| Kansas | $98,290 | 43 | $109,129 | 14 | $47.25 | 2,660 | 1.85 |
| Kentucky | $100,710 | 28 | $111,703 | 7 | $48.42 | 3,390 | 1.69 |
| Louisiana | $98,530 | 42 | $111,703 | 8 | $47.37 | 3,280 | 1.69 |
| Maine | $99,720 | 36 | $102,751 | 32 | $47.94 | 1,860 | 2.90 |
| Maryland | $106,890 | 5 | $101,840 | 35 | $51.39 | 3,940 | 1.43 |
| Massachusetts | $103,790 | 11 | $98,140 | 43 | $49.90 | 6,850 | 1.88 |
| Michigan | $100,900 | 27 | $104,867 | 26 | $48.51 | 8,630 | 1.96 |
| Minnesota | $102,010 | 18 | $103,436 | 30 | $49.04 | 5,180 | 1.76 |
| Mississippi | $99,990 | 32 | $114,993 | 2 | $48.07 | 1,980 | 1.70 |
| Missouri | $99,310 | 38 | $109,352 | 13 | $47.75 | 4,900 | 1.67 |
| Montana | $91,450 | 50 | $96,624 | 46 | $43.97 | 1,180 | 2.31 |
| Nebraska | $97,090 | 47 | $107,754 | 22 | $46.68 | 2,140 | 2.09 |
| Nevada | $111,250 | 4 | $111,273 | 9 | $53.48 | 2,030 | 1.31 |
| New Hampshire | $99,850 | 35 | $95,858 | 48 | $48.01 | 1,960 | 2.87 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 | 3 | $103,065 | 31 | $53.91 | 9,750 | 2.27 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 | 6 | $115,907 | 1 | $51.38 | 1,330 | 1.52 |
| New York | $100,660 | 29 | $93,272 | 49 | $48.39 | 20,940 | 2.16 |
| North Carolina | $99,910 | 33 | $105,920 | 24 | $48.03 | 7,350 | 1.49 |
| North Dakota | $85,330 | 51 | $95,921 | 47 | $41.02 | 830 | 1.93 |
| Ohio | $103,050 | 14 | $111,076 | 11 | $49.54 | 10,280 | 1.85 |
| Oklahoma | $98,590 | 41 | $112,234 | 5 | $47.40 | 2,560 | 1.50 |
| Oregon | $103,510 | 12 | $100,144 | 39 | $49.77 | 3,210 | 1.63 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,380 | 24 | $103,903 | 28 | $48.74 | 11,710 | 1.93 |
| Rhode Island | $99,400 | 37 | $97,184 | 45 | $47.79 | 1,020 | 2.03 |
| South Carolina | $101,330 | 25 | $108,086 | 20 | $48.72 | 3,930 | 1.71 |
| South Dakota | $92,660 | 49 | $104,599 | 27 | $44.55 | 1,060 | 2.32 |
| Tennessee | $100,140 | 31 | $109,002 | 16 | $48.15 | 4,800 | 1.46 |
| Texas | $105,810 | 8 | $109,018 | 15 | $50.87 | 21,870 | 1.55 |
| Utah | $99,880 | 34 | $101,028 | 36 | $48.02 | 2,300 | 1.33 |
| Vermont | $97,970 | 44 | $100,012 | 40 | $47.10 | 760 | 2.50 |
| Virginia | $101,450 | 23 | $100,342 | 38 | $48.78 | 7,630 | 1.86 |
| Washington | $105,950 | 7 | $99,007 | 42 | $50.94 | 5,370 | 1.51 |
| West Virginia | $96,600 | 48 | $107,937 | 21 | $46.44 | 1,310 | 1.86 |
| Wisconsin | $101,840 | 19 | $108,231 | 19 | $48.96 | 5,580 | 1.90 |
| Wyoming | $100,400 | 30 | $108,317 | 18 | $48.27 | 560 | 1.98 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, state estimates. Adjusted pay = median ÷ (state price level ÷ 100), using BEA regional price parities for 2024; it ignores taxes. Figures for states with few workers in the occupation have larger survey errors and can change sharply from one year to the next. “—” means BLS did not publish the figure. State names link to each state’s highest-paying jobs.
Best-paying metro areas for physical therapists
384 metro areas with published pay
| Metro area | Median | Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $141,980 | $122,806 | 3,140 |
| Vallejo, CA | $141,530 | $130,468 | 300 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $140,100 | $129,982 | 290 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $139,000 | $125,880 | 1,460 |
| Napa, CA | $138,540 | $123,088 | 50 |
| Chico, CA | $134,970 | $133,374 | 180 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $131,430 | $123,212 | 1,610 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $128,680 | $118,274 | 310 |
| Hanford-Corcoran, CA | $127,460 | $125,438 | 40 |
| Salinas, CA | $127,120 | $116,579 | 190 |
| Metro area | Jobs | Median | Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,240 | $107,650 | $95,635 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,750 | $108,170 | $95,249 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,880 | $105,720 | $102,051 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,250 | $105,790 | $103,155 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 6,100 | $107,780 | $104,549 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,330 | $103,550 | $95,644 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,950 | $100,870 | $88,362 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,680 | $107,700 | $109,197 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,540 | $102,980 | $94,578 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,250 | $103,440 | $103,380 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, metropolitan statistical areas; adjusted with BEA metro price parities (2024).
What moves physical therapist pay: employers and settings
The setting you work in moves physical therapist pay more than the title does. Home health care services pay the highest median among the main employers ($114,740) and skilled nursing facilities pay $111,740. Both involve older, medically complex patients, and home health adds driving between visits. General hospitals pay $106,890. Outpatient therapy offices, the largest employer, pay less, at $97,290. Federal government jobs have a median of $112,610.
Location matters too. California has the highest state median, $124,190, ahead of Alaska ($115,280, the second highest) and New Jersey ($112,140, the third). North Dakota is at the low end at $85,330. After adjusting for living costs, New Mexico comes out ahead, at $115,907.
Across the occupation, pay runs from $77,140, the 10th percentile, to $135,140, the 90th. That spread comes from setting, state and role, not just years in practice. Moving into clinic management, owning a practice, or taking per-visit home health work can push earnings toward the top. Board certification and residency training help you compete for specialty jobs, but they do not set a fixed raise.
| Industry | Share of jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 38.8% | $97,290 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 23% | $106,890 |
| Home Health Care Services | 11.6% | $114,740 |
| Offices of Physicians | 6.4% | $102,010 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 5% | $111,740 |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 3.8% | $105,300 |
| Employer type | Jobs | Median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Private employers | 246,470 | $102,500 |
| Federal government (incl. Postal Service) | 2,430 | $112,610 |
| State government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 4,690 | $106,980 |
| Local government (incl. schools and hospitals) | 13,740 | $104,180 |
BLS OEWS, May 2025, national industry-specific and ownership estimates (4-digit NAICS).
Physical Therapist pay over time
Median annual pay, 2015–2025
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
The median rose from $84,020 in 2015 to $102,760 in 2025, up 22% in nominal dollars. After inflation, the 2015 median is worth $113,578 in May 2025 dollars, so real pay fell 10% over the period.
BLS OEWS, May 2025 and earlier May releases; inflation from the CPI-U, US city average, May of each year.
What physical therapists do
A physical therapist (PT) is a licensed clinician who examines how a person moves, finds the physical cause of pain or lost function, and treats it with exercise, hands-on techniques and training. Patients range from a teenager rehabbing a torn ACL to an 80-year-old relearning to walk after a stroke or hip replacement.
The largest group of PTs, 38.8% in our data, work in outpatient therapy practices. Another 23% work in general hospitals, where they get surgical and ICU patients out of bed, and 11.6% visit patients at home through home health agencies. Smaller numbers work in physicians' offices, skilled nursing facilities and specialty rehab hospitals, and some run their own clinics.
PTs build the plan of care and decide when to change it. In most settings they direct physical therapist assistants and aides and coordinate with surgeons, physicians, nurses and occupational therapists. The job keeps you on your feet: you demonstrate exercises, guard patients while they walk, and help lift and transfer people who cannot move on their own.
A typical day
- Read the referral, surgery notes and imaging reports before a new patient's first visit
- Run an initial evaluation: measure range of motion and strength, watch the patient walk, and test balance
- Write a plan of care with measurable goals, such as climbing stairs without a rail
- Treat patients with exercise, joint mobilization, soft-tissue work and gait training with walkers or crutches
- Assign routine treatment to physical therapist assistants and check on their patients
- Teach patients and family members a home exercise program and safe ways to get in and out of bed or a car
- Document every visit and progress note in the electronic record so insurers and physicians can follow the case
Also called: physical therapy, acute care pt (acute care physical therapist), doctor of physical therapy (dpt), home care physical therapist (home care pt), inpatient physical therapist (inpatient pt), outpatient physical therapist (outpatient pt), pediatric physical therapist (pediatric pt), registered physical therapist (rpt).
How to become a physical therapist
Full guideTo become a physical therapist, you earn a bachelor's degree with the required science prerequisites, complete a 3-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program accredited by CAPTE, pass the National Physical Therapy Examination, and get a state license. Most people need about 7 years after high school.
- Typical time
- 7 years
- Fastest: About 6 years
- Minimum education
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a CAPTE-accredited program
- License
- Required in all 50 states and DC
- Typical training cost
- $74.9K–$131K
- See the guide for what it includes
Read the step-by-step guide to becoming a physical therapist: each step with its time and cost, education options, exams, licensing and advancement.
Is it worth it? Training cost against pay
Compare careers- Training time
- 7 years
- Typical path in our guide
- Training cost
- $74.9K–$131K
- Tuition and exam fees, before aid
- Median pay
- $102,760
- $51,780 above the all-jobs median ($50,980)
- Cost vs. one year's pay
- 73–127%
- Training cost as a share of a year at the median
Once qualified, the pay difference over the typical US job at the median ($51,780 a year before tax) would repay the training cost in about 1.4–2.5 years after training ends (7 years in our guide). This is a rough guide: it ignores taxes, financial aid, interest, earnings given up while training and how pay changes over a career. How we calculate ROI.
Job outlook for physical therapists
BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
- Projected growth
- +11.9%
- All occupations +3.5%
- Jobs in 2025
- 283,700
- 317,600 projected for 2035
- Openings each year
- 13,400
- New jobs plus replacements
- Self-employed
- 4.2%
- Not in the pay figures above
BLS projects employment of physical therapists to grow from 283,700 jobs in 2025 to 317,600 in 2035, an increase of 11.9%. The average for all occupations is 3.5%, so this is one of the faster-growing health jobs. About 13,400 openings are expected each year, counting new jobs and replacements for PTs who retire or leave the field.
The demand comes mainly from an aging population. Older adults need rehab after strokes, heart attacks, falls and joint replacements. Rising rates of diabetes, obesity, back pain and arthritis add patients of all ages, and doctors are steering more pain patients to therapy instead of opioids.
Related careers and their pay
- Physical Therapist Assistant$68,380
- Occupational Therapist$100,330
- Orthopedic Surgeon$358,550
- Registered Nurse$97,550
- Respiratory Therapist$82,280
- Nurse Practitioner$132,300
- Radiation Therapist$105,310
- Pediatrician$210,040
Related occupations from O*NET 31.0; median annual pay from BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Physical Therapist salary FAQ
How much do physical therapists make an hour?
The median hourly wage for physical therapists was $49.40 in May 2025. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $37.09 an hour and the highest-paid 10% more than $64.97. Hourly figures are BLS estimates for all workers in the occupation, full-time and part-time.
Which state pays physical therapists the most?
California has the highest median pay for physical therapists, $124,190 a year, followed by Alaska ($115,280) and New Jersey ($112,140). After adjusting for each state's price level, New Mexico comes out ahead at about $115,907 in national-average dollars.
Do physical therapists make $200,000 a year?
Few do: based on the BLS percentiles, fewer than 10% of physical therapists earn more than $200,000 a year. The median is $102,760, and the top 10% earn more than $135,140. Pay generally rises with experience, specialization and location.
What is the difference between a physical therapist and a physical therapist assistant?
A physical therapist holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, evaluates patients, decides what is wrong with their movement and writes the plan of care. A physical therapist assistant earns an associate degree and carries out parts of that plan under a PT's direction, such as leading exercises and gait training. PTAs cannot do the initial evaluation or discharge a patient. Both must pass a version of the national exam and hold a state license.
Which physical therapy settings pay the most?
In our data, home health care services have the highest median of the large employers at $114,740. Skilled nursing facilities follow at $111,740 and general hospitals at $106,890. Outpatient therapy offices employ the most PTs but have a lower median, $97,290. Home health often pays per visit, so earnings depend on how many visits you complete and how much driving the territory involves.
Is being a physical therapist physically demanding?
Yes. PTs spend most of the day standing, kneeling beside treatment tables and demonstrating exercises. In hospitals and nursing facilities they regularly help lift, turn and transfer patients who cannot support their own weight, which puts strain on the back. Using good body mechanics, gait belts and mechanical lifts lowers the risk, but you should expect the job to be physically tiring.
Sources
Data updated October 28, 2026 · Text checked against its sources October 28, 2026
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates, released April 30, 2026, SOC 29-1123
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–2035, released September 2026
- O*NET 31.0 Database (29-1123.00), U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0; tasks rewritten by Careers and Salaries
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by state and metro area, 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, May values
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study and institution data, most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15
- Physical Therapists, Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · checked October 28, 2026
- Becoming a Physical Therapist, American Physical Therapy Association · checked October 28, 2026
- 2025 Physical Therapist Education Programs Fact Sheet (Aggregate Program Data), Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) · checked October 28, 2026
- NPTE Candidate Handbook: Exam Registration and Scheduling, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy · checked October 28, 2026
- Retake Exam, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy · checked October 28, 2026
- Eligibility Requirements, Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy · checked October 28, 2026
- PT Compact, Physical Therapy Compact Commission · checked October 28, 2026
- Become a Specialist, American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (APTA) · checked October 28, 2026
- License Finder, CareerOneStop, U.S. Department of Labor · checked October 28, 2026
- Doctor of Physical Therapy (Hybrid), University of Utah · checked October 28, 2026
Careers and Salaries is not affiliated with the Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Found an error? Tell us; corrections are listed on the editorial policy page.