In this Article
By: All Allied Health Staff
Updated: February 5, 2026
Physical therapists (PTs) are essential healthcare professionals that must go through years of schooling to provide safe and effective care. Their earning potential generally reflects their rigorous education requirements, with data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicating that the median annual salary for physical therapists is $101,020.
Key takeaways
- Physical therapists generally earn a strong median annual salary nationwide, with pay varying based on experience, location, work setting and more.
- The job outlook for physical therapists is also quite strong, with the BLS estimating a 10.9% growth through the next decade, faster than the average across all occupations.
- Experience and certifications can have a particularly large impact on earning potential, as board-certified clinical specialists earn more on average according to industry salary reports.
Physical therapist salary overview
The BLS reports that the median annual salary for physical therapists overall is $101,020. That comes out to about $49 per hour. These figures only represent the middle range of salaries. The bottom 10% of the profession earn $74,420 and the top 10% earn $132,500, which gives a more holistic view of PT salaries overall.
Unsurprisingly, physical therapist assistants and aides make less. The BLS states that the median annual salary for physical therapist assistants is $65,510 or $32 per hour, but keep in mind that assistants and aides don’t require near as much upfront financial investment in their education the way full-fledged physical therapists do.
Physical therapist salaries by state
Keeping in mind that salaries can fluctuate significantly within a given state, take a look at the median annual PT salaries by state according to the most recent BLS data. The top-paying states are quite spread out geographically—California, Alaska, New Jersey, Nevada and Oregon have the highest median annual salaries nationwide.
Which cities pay the best?
Take a look at the 10 top-paying metro areas for physical therapists according to the BLS:
How do physical therapist salaries compare to other careers?
If you’re thinking about becoming a physical therapist or any other allied health professional, it can be helpful to know how average salaries of similar careers stack up to one another.
What factors impact a physical therapist’s salary?
Education
All physical therapists need at least a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to become a licensed PT. Since a doctorate is the highest level of education you can earn, there’s not much more to be gained financially by pursuing further education. That said, some physical therapists may want to steer their career towards healthcare administration or management, policymaking or academia as it relates to field of physical therapy. A degree in healthcare management, business or public health could be beneficial in these cases, and could possibly lead to even higher paying roles.
Student loan forgiveness for physical therapists
When you’re considering your financial outlook as a physical therapist, don’t forget about the student loan forgiveness options available to healthcare workers. Depending on career path and other factors, many physical therapists and physical therapist assistants may qualify. There are full and partial loan forgiveness programs at the federal and state level, as well as for people in public service careers. If you’re interested in a physical therapy career, it’s a good idea to explore your student loan forgiveness options in advance so you can be aware of what’s available as you enter the job market.
Workplace
Your work environment can also influence your pay. According to the BLS, the median annual wages for physical therapists in different settings are:
- Outpatient care centers: $122,190
- Hospitals: $105,190
- Nursing and residential care facilities: $105,590
- Home healthcare services: $108,110
Certification
Physical therapists have the option to pursue board certification in a particular specialty through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). PT must have at least 2,000 hours of experience in one of the 10 available specialty areas and pass an exam in order to become board-certified in their specialty area.
Certification demonstrates your unique skillset and can lead to more specialized roles that pay more. In fact, the ABPTS states that board-certified PTs earn $4,540 more annually on average compared to PTs who are not board certified.
What’s the job outlook for physical therapists?
Demand for physical therapy services will continue, in large part, due to an aging baby boomer population who are staying more active and living longer. And as advancements in medical technology increase the use of outpatient surgery to treat injuries and illnesses, physical therapists will continue to play an important role in recovering quickly. For these same reasons, physical therapist assistants are also among some of the most in-demand allied heath careers.
Employment of physical therapists through 2034:
10.9%
Much faster than average for all professions (3%) according to the BLS.
Job opportunities are likely to be strong for licensed physical therapists in all settings. They may be found particularly in acute hospital, skilled nursing and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. And the outlook is especially favorable in rural areas, because many physical therapists live in highly populated urban and suburban areas.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between average and median physical therapist salary?
The average or mean salary for any profession is calculated by adding all the data points available (in this case, all PT salaries) and dividing that number by the total number of data points (the number of PTs). The median of a data set represents the very middle salary—in other words, half of all PT salaries fall below that number, and the other half are all higher than that number. Looking at the median generally gives a more accurate picture of realistic salaries because averages can be skewed by outliers (unusually low or high salaries).
Are physical therapists paid hourly or salaried?
Most physical therapists are salaried employees, meaning they are paid consistently and cannot accrue overtime, but this can vary by employer.
How many hours do physical therapists typically work?
Unlike other healthcare professions, physical therapists are not dealing with all-hours emergencies that demand they work unusual hours. Most physical therapists work 40-hour weeks on a 9-to-5 schedule. Some hospitals and offices may allow patients to book appointments on weekends to accommodate working adults, so some physical therapists may have to work weekends as well and take their days off during the week.
Do certifications increase physical therapist salary?
Yes, physical therapists who are board-certified may be able to earn more. The ABPTS reports that board-certified PTs make more on average compared to their peers that are not board-certified.
Do physical therapists make more money in hospitals or private practice?
This is difficult to answer with certainty. Opening or working in a private practice may be able to bring in a lot more money, but those who run the practice also have to pay a lot more overhead costs (rented office space, employee salaries, etc.) to keep the business running. The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has numerous resources to support physical therapists’ career development and provide more information.