How Much Do Physical Therapists Make in 2026? (Salary by State)

By WealthVieu · Updated
Data updated September 29, 2026
Part of our Salary by Profession

Physical therapists in the US earn $105,280 on average — with top earners and practice owners making $120,000-$150,000+.

Pay at a Glance (BLS Data)

Bureau of Labor Statistics wage estimates for physical therapists, across all industries:

Percentile Annual Wage Hourly Equivalent
10th (entry level) $77,140 $37.09
25th $86,160 $41.42
50th (median) $102,760 $49.40
75th $121,160 $58.25
90th $135,140 $64.97
Average (mean) $105,280 $50.62

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, for Physical Therapists (all industries). Hourly figures are annual wages divided by 2,080 hours. “Not published” means BLS withheld the estimate, usually because wages are above its top reporting limit.

Average Physical Therapist Salary in 2026

Metric Amount
Average salary $105,280
Median salary $102,760
Entry level $75,000-$85,000
Mid-career $95,000-$110,000
Top 10% $126,000+
Hourly rate $47.00

Physical Therapist Salary by State

Rank State Avg Salary Starting Salary Median Salary
1 California $122,580 $85,580 $124,190
2 Nevada $120,700 $86,260 $111,250
3 Alaska $115,830 $97,950 $115,280
4 New Jersey $114,550 $84,640 $112,140
5 District of Columbia $112,400 $85,620 $101,640
6 Maryland $110,700 $79,990 $106,890
7 New Mexico $110,060 $77,260 $106,880
8 Texas $109,270 $76,600 $105,810
9 Illinois $109,080 $83,000 $105,250
10 Washington $108,550 $78,300 $105,950
11 Delaware $108,470 $79,930 $102,050
12 Arizona $107,360 $81,560 $103,220
13 Massachusetts $106,900 $82,760 $103,790
14 Oregon $106,510 $79,440 $103,510
15 Connecticut $105,460 $82,110 $104,360
16 Virginia $104,070 $75,720 $101,450
17 Colorado $103,870 $76,460 $102,030
18 Georgia $103,240 $78,580 $102,700
19 New York $102,740 $73,580 $100,660
20 Ohio $102,740 $79,070 $103,050
21 Rhode Island $102,520 $80,770 $99,400
22 Indiana $102,240 $76,960 $101,560
23 Minnesota $102,240 $83,570 $102,010
24 Wisconsin $102,210 $80,740 $101,840
25 Pennsylvania $101,650 $76,960 $101,380
26 Hawaii $101,050 $78,630 $101,700
27 Michigan $100,630 $79,600 $100,900
28 Alabama $100,190 $74,770 $97,290
29 North Carolina $100,010 $78,020 $99,910
30 Utah $99,790 $66,160 $99,880
31 Wyoming $99,480 $75,900 $100,400
32 Kentucky $99,190 $73,900 $100,710
33 Missouri $98,700 $76,110 $99,310
34 Florida $98,510 $73,630 $101,040
35 New Hampshire $98,420 $76,180 $99,850
36 Tennessee $98,260 $67,280 $100,140
37 Arkansas $98,120 $73,050 $99,010
38 South Carolina $98,100 $72,810 $101,330
39 Maine $97,950 $78,020 $99,720
40 Oklahoma $97,520 $68,330 $98,590
41 Louisiana $97,250 $60,150 $98,530
42 West Virginia $96,880 $73,130 $96,600
43 Mississippi $96,850 $73,700 $99,990
44 Idaho $96,830 $74,570 $99,000
45 Nebraska $95,890 $77,540 $97,090
46 Vermont $95,870 $75,040 $97,970
47 Kansas $95,540 $72,290 $98,290
48 Iowa $94,780 $73,780 $97,560
49 Montana $93,440 $78,490 $91,450
50 South Dakota $93,200 $77,890 $92,660
51 North Dakota $92,480 $75,290 $85,330
— National $105,280 $77,140 $102,760

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, 2025 estimates, fetched 2026-09-29. Figures cover Physical Therapists (cross-industry). Some states are omitted where BLS did not publish a reliable estimate.

Physical Therapist Salary by Setting

Work Setting Average Salary Schedule
Home Health $105,000-$130,000 Flexible
Skilled Nursing (SNF) $95,000-$115,000 M-F
Hospital (inpatient) $90,000-$110,000 Shifts
Hospital (outpatient) $85,000-$105,000 M-F
Travel PT $100,000-$140,000 Contracts
Private practice (employee) $75,000-$100,000 M-F
Private practice (owner) $100,000-$200,000+ Varies
Schools $75,000-$90,000 School year

Home health and skilled nursing consistently pay the highest.

Physical Therapist Salary by Specialty

Specialty Average Salary Additional Training
Orthopedic PT $95,000 OCS certification
Neurological PT $97,000 NCS certification
Sports PT $94,000 SCS certification
Geriatric PT $92,000 GCS certification
Pediatric PT $90,000 PCS certification
Cardiovascular/Pulmonary $96,000 CCS certification
Women’s Health $93,000 WCS certification

PT Salary by Experience

Experience Level Salary Range
New Grad (0-1 year) $75,000-$85,000
Early Career (1-4 years) $82,000-$95,000
Mid-Career (5-9 years) $92,000-$105,000
Experienced (10-19 years) $100,000-$115,000
Late Career (20+ years) $105,000-$125,000

Travel Physical Therapist Pay

Travel PTs earn significantly more:

Component 13-Week Contract
Weekly taxable pay $1,200-$1,800
Weekly housing stipend $1,500-$2,500
Weekly meals stipend $400-$600
Total weekly $3,100-$4,900
Annualized $120,000-$180,000

Stipends are tax-free if you maintain a tax home.

Cost of Becoming a Physical Therapist

Expense Amount
Bachelor’s degree (4 years) $40,000-$160,000
DPT program (3 years) $80,000-$180,000
Total education cost $120,000-$340,000
Average PT student debt $115,000
Time to complete 7 years

The high student debt is a major consideration when evaluating this career.

Physical Therapist Salary After Taxes

Gross Salary Federal Income Tax Social Security + Medicare Take-Home Before State Tax Monthly
$80,000 $8,770 $6,120 $65,110 $5,426
$105,280 $14,332 $8,054 $82,894 $6,908
$110,000 $15,370 $8,415 $86,215 $7,185
$130,000 $19,934 $9,945 $100,121 $8,343

2026 federal income tax for a single filer taking the standard deduction ($16,100), plus Social Security and Medicare. Not included: state and local income tax, retirement contributions and other pre-tax deductions. For your own situation, use the take-home pay calculator.

Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Salary

PTAs (2-year degree) earn less but have much lower education costs:

Metric PTA PT
Average salary $61,180 $97,720
Education time 2 years 7 years
Education cost $15,000-$40,000 $120,000-$340,000
Student debt $20,000 $115,000

Job Outlook

Metric Value
Job growth (2025-2035) 12%
Annual openings ~22,000
Current employment 258,000
Aging population impact Strong demand driver

The aging baby boomer population will drive strong PT demand.

How to Maximize PT Salary

  1. Work in home health or SNF — Usually pays more than outpatient
  2. Travel PT — Earn $120,000-$180,000 with tax advantages
  3. Move to high-paying states — Nevada, California, New Jersey
  4. Get specialty certified — Small pay bump, better job options
  5. Open your own practice — Owners earn $120,000-$200,000+
  6. PRN/part-time extra work — $50-$75/hour

Is Physical Therapy Worth It?

Pros:

  • Good salary ($97,000 average)
  • Excellent job security
  • Help patients improve quality of life
  • Diverse work settings
  • Growing demand

Cons:

  • High student debt ($115,000 average)
  • Requires doctorate (7 years education)
  • Physically demanding
  • Productivity requirements
  • Reimbursement pressures

Bottom Line

Physical therapists earn $97,720 average, with home health and travel PTs earning $110,000-$180,000. The profession offers good pay and excellent job security, but high education costs ($115,000 average debt) reduce the financial advantage. Travel PT and practice ownership offer the highest earning potential.

See every profession in our salary by profession guides.

Sources

  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes

WealthVieu
Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy