Iowa Median
$97,560
per year
Hourly Rate
$46.90
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-5% vs US median
US median $102,760
State Rank
#45 of 51
2,530 employed here
How much does a Physical Therapist make in Iowa?
Physical Therapists in Iowa take home a median of $97,560 annually — roughly $46.90 an hour — which runs 5% below the national median of $102,760.
Within Iowa, entry-level pay starts around $73,780 while the top 10% make $120,730 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $78,810 and $106,070 a year.
Physical Therapist salary range in Iowa
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $73,780 | $35.47 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $78,810 | $37.89 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $97,560 | $46.90 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $106,070 | $51.00 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $120,730 | $58.04 |
|
How Iowa compares
Iowa ranks 45th out of 51 states and territories for Physical Therapist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physical Therapist salary in other states
California $124,190Alaska $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 $97,970Alabama $97,290Nebraska $97,090West Virginia $96,600South Dakota $92,660Montana $91,450North Dakota $85,330
Working as a Physical Therapist in Iowa
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 Iowa pay ($97,560) 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 Iowa?
The median Physical Therapist salary in Iowa is $97,560 per year, or about $46.90 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $73,780 at the entry level to $120,730 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Iowa pay compare to the national average?
Iowa pays Physical Therapists about 5% less than the national median of $102,760. Iowa ranks 45th out of 51 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Iowa a good state for Physical Therapists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $97,560 a year. About 2,530 Physical Therapists are employed in Iowa. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Iowa?
The highest-paying occupations in Iowa include Emergency Medicine Physician ($429,050), Dermatologist ($424,970), Radiologist ($405,220), 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.