SOC 29-1123 · May 2025
Physical Therapist Salary
Physical Therapists in the US earn a median of $102,760 a year ($50.62 an hour on average), according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. Average Physical Therapist pay climbed from $90,170 in 2019 to $105,280 in 2025, a +16.8% change in 6 years.
Median annual
$102,760
Half of all Physical Therapists in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
+16.8% since 2019 · +2.8% YoY
Hourly
$50.62
Job growth 2025-35
+11.9%
US workers
267,330
BLS series
Annual median wage for Physical Therapists in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Physical Therapists is $77,140 – $135,140.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$77,140
25th
$86,160
Median
$102,760
75th
$121,160
90th
$135,140
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Physical Therapists. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $77,140 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $86,160 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $102,760 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $121,160 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $135,140 |
Geography
Physical Therapist pay by state
Physical Therapists earn the most in California ($124,190, +21% against the national median) and the least in North Dakota ($85,330). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 51 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$102,760
Highest-paying states for physical therapists
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $124,190 | +21% | 26,580 |
| Alaska | $115,280 | +12% | 680 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 | +9% | 9,750 |
| Nevada | $111,250 | +8% | 2,030 |
| Maryland | $106,890 | +4% | 3,940 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 | +4% | 1,330 |
| Washington | $105,950 | +3% | 5,370 |
| Texas | $105,810 | +3% | 21,870 |
| Illinois | $105,250 | +2% | 9,800 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 | +2% | 4,060 |
All 51 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| California | $124,190 | 26,580 |
| Alaska | $115,280 | 680 |
| New Jersey | $112,140 | 9,750 |
| Nevada | $111,250 | 2,030 |
| Maryland | $106,890 | 3,940 |
| New Mexico | $106,880 | 1,330 |
| Washington | $105,950 | 5,370 |
| Texas | $105,810 | 21,870 |
| Illinois | $105,250 | 9,800 |
| Connecticut | $104,360 | 4,060 |
| Massachusetts | $103,790 | 6,850 |
| Oregon | $103,510 | 3,210 |
| Arizona | $103,220 | 5,170 |
| Ohio | $103,050 | 10,280 |
| Georgia | $102,700 | 6,780 |
| Delaware | $102,050 | 1,260 |
| Colorado | $102,030 | 5,630 |
| Minnesota | $102,010 | 5,180 |
| Wisconsin | $101,840 | 5,580 |
| Hawaii | $101,700 | 950 |
| D.C. | $101,640 | 610 |
| Indiana | $101,560 | 6,130 |
| Virginia | $101,450 | 7,630 |
| Pennsylvania | $101,380 | 11,710 |
| South Carolina | $101,330 | 3,930 |
| Florida | $101,040 | 16,290 |
| Michigan | $100,900 | 8,630 |
| Kentucky | $100,710 | 3,390 |
| New York | $100,660 | 20,940 |
| Wyoming | $100,400 | 560 |
| Tennessee | $100,140 | 4,800 |
| Mississippi | $99,990 | 1,980 |
| North Carolina | $99,910 | 7,350 |
| Utah | $99,880 | 2,300 |
| New Hampshire | $99,850 | 1,960 |
| Maine | $99,720 | 1,860 |
| Rhode Island | $99,400 | 1,020 |
| Missouri | $99,310 | 4,900 |
| Arkansas | $99,010 | 2,680 |
| Idaho | $99,000 | 1,030 |
| Oklahoma | $98,590 | 2,560 |
| Louisiana | $98,530 | 3,280 |
| Kansas | $98,290 | 2,660 |
| Vermont | $97,970 | 760 |
| Iowa | $97,560 | 2,530 |
| Alabama | $97,290 | 3,040 |
| Nebraska | $97,090 | 2,140 |
| West Virginia | $96,600 | 1,310 |
| South Dakota | $92,660 | 1,060 |
| Montana | $91,450 | 1,180 |
| North Dakota | $85,330 | 830 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Physical Therapists
Physical therapists help injured or ill patients improve movement and manage pain. The role requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from a CAPTE-accredited program plus state licensure.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $77,140 – $135,140. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are California, Alaska and New Jersey. Pay in California runs 1.5 times the level in North Dakota, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as doctoral or professional degree, and projects about 13,400 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 11.9% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Physical Therapist salary in the US?
How much does a Physical Therapist make an hour?
How much do Physical Therapists make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Physical Therapists the most?
Is the average Physical Therapist salary higher than the median?
Is Physical Therapist a growing career?
Open positions
Open Physical Therapist roles hiring now
Browse current Physical Therapist listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 29-1123. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.