Median Salary
$102,760
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$49.40
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$135,140
entry level starts ~$77,140
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 267,000 employed
How much does a Physical Therapist make?
The median pay for a Physical Therapist in the United States is $102,760 per year — about $49.40 per hour. Entry-level positions start near $77,140, while the most experienced Physical Therapists in the top 10% earn $135,140.
That is $41,370 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Physical Therapist salary range by percentile
Half of all Physical Therapists earn between $86,160 and $121,160 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,140 | $37.09 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $86,160 | $41.42 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $102,760 | $49.40 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $121,160 | $58.25 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $135,140 | $64.97 |
|
Highest-paying states for Physical Therapist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Physical Therapist pay at $124,190 a year, followed by Alaska ($115,280) and New Jersey ($112,140). At the other end, North Dakota posts the lowest median at $85,330 — a gap of $38,860 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Physical Therapist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 51 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $97,970Iowa $97,560Alabama $97,290Nebraska $97,090West Virginia $96,600South Dakota $92,660Montana $91,450North Dakota $85,330
Workforce and education
About 267,000 people work as Physical Therapists in the United States. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physical Therapist make in the United States?
The median Physical Therapist salary in the United States is $102,760 per year, or about $49.40 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $77,140, while the top 10% of earners make $135,140 or more.
How does Physical Therapist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Physical Therapist median of $102,760 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Physical Therapists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Physical Therapists, with a median salary of $124,190 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Physical Therapist?
Becoming a Physical Therapist typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Physical Therapists work in the United States?
About 267,000 people were employed as Physical Therapists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.