California Median
$124,190
per year
Hourly Rate
$59.71
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+21% vs US median
US median $102,760
State Rank
#1 of 51
26,580 employed here
How much does a Physical Therapist make in California?
A Physical Therapist working in California earns a median salary of $124,190 per year, or about $59.71 per hour. That is 21% above the national median of $102,760 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $85,580 while the top 10% make $163,960 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $100,790 and $141,260 a year.
Physical Therapist salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,580 | $41.14 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $100,790 | $48.46 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $124,190 | $59.71 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $141,260 | $67.91 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,960 | $78.83 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories for Physical Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physical Therapist salary in other states
Alaska $115,280New Jersey $112,140Nevada $111,250Maryland $106,890New Mexico $106,880Washington $105,950Texas $105,810Illinois $105,250Connecticut $104,360Massachusetts $103,790Oregon $103,510Arizona $103,220Ohio $103,050Georgia $102,700Delaware $102,050Colorado $102,030Minnesota $102,010Wisconsin $101,840Hawaii $101,700District of Columbia $101,640Indiana $101,560Virginia $101,450Pennsylvania $101,380South Carolina $101,330Florida $101,040Michigan $100,900Kentucky $100,710New York $100,660Wyoming $100,400Tennessee $100,140Mississippi $99,990North Carolina $99,910Utah $99,880New Hampshire $99,850Maine $99,720Rhode Island $99,400Missouri $99,310Arkansas $99,010Idaho $99,000Oklahoma $98,590Louisiana $98,530Kansas $98,290Vermont $97,970Iowa $97,560Alabama $97,290Nebraska $97,090West Virginia $96,600South Dakota $92,660Montana $91,450North Dakota $85,330
Working as a Physical Therapist in California
Nationally, about 267,000 people work as Physical Therapists in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($124,190) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physical Therapist make in California?
The median Physical Therapist salary in California is $124,190 per year, or about $59.71 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $85,580 at the entry level to $163,960 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Physical Therapists about 21% more than the national median of $102,760. California ranks 1st out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Physical Therapists?
Yes on pay — California pays above the national median for this occupation, at $124,190 a year. About 26,580 Physical Therapists are employed in California. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Physical Therapist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.