Physical Therapists
Physical Therapists (SOC 29-1123) earn a median $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour) in the United States, with 267,330 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What physical therapists do
Physical therapists treat people whose movement or function has been limited by injury, disease or other conditions. They perform and document an initial exam, evaluate the data to identify problems and reach a diagnosis, and then write an individually designed program of physical treatment to improve function, relieve pain or prevent dysfunction. Treatment combines manual exercises, massage and traction, along with stretching and training. They obtain the patient's informed consent, teach patients and families what to continue at home, evaluate the effects of treatment at various stages, and adjust the plan so the patient gets the most benefit. They confer with physicians and others to plan and assess the program, and chart prognosis, treatment and response. O*NET alternate titles such as acute care, geriatric, home health and orthopedic physical therapist suggest the range of settings and patient groups. About half of respondents report a doctoral degree. Athletic trainers, who focus on injuries to athletes, and occupational therapists, who address daily tasks, are counted in other codes.
Typical entry: O*NET respondents most often report a doctoral degree as the typical level of education for this occupation (47 percent).
Also called: Acute Care PT (Acute Care Physical Therapist), Acute Physical Therapist (Acute PT), Cardiopulmonary Physical Therapist (Cardiopulmonary PT), Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), Geriatric Physical Therapist (Geriatric PT).
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $37.09 | $41.42 | $49.40 | $58.25 | $64.97 | $50.62 | 267,330 |
| Annual | $77,140 | $86,160 | $102,760 | $121,160 | $135,140 | $105,280 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where physical therapists earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $41.15 | $48.46 | $59.71 | $67.91 | $78.83 | $58.93 | 26,580 | 1.46 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $85,580 | $100,790 | $124,190 | $141,260 | $163,960 | $122,580 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $47.09 | $48.80 | $55.43 | $62.38 | $64.28 | $55.69 | 680 | 2.10 | 1.22 |
| Annual | $97,950 | $101,500 | $115,280 | $129,760 | $133,690 | $115,830 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $40.69 | $46.50 | $53.91 | $62.39 | $67.33 | $55.07 | 9,750 | 2.28 | 1.32 |
| Annual | $84,640 | $96,730 | $112,140 | $129,780 | $140,040 | $114,550 | ||||
| Nevada | Hourly | $41.47 | $47.16 | $53.48 | $64.63 | $91.64 | $58.03 | 2,030 | 1.31 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $86,260 | $98,100 | $111,250 | $134,420 | $190,620 | $120,700 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $38.46 | $46.58 | $51.39 | $60.31 | $66.65 | $53.22 | 3,940 | 1.43 | 0.83 |
| Annual | $79,990 | $96,880 | $106,890 | $125,440 | $138,630 | $110,700 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $41.15 | $48.46 | $59.71 | $67.91 | $78.83 | $58.93 | 26,580 | 1.46 | 0.85 |
| Annual | $85,580 | $100,790 | $124,190 | $141,260 | $163,960 | $122,580 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $36.83 | $42.61 | $50.87 | $61.20 | $66.85 | $52.53 | 21,870 | 1.55 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $76,600 | $88,620 | $105,810 | $127,290 | $139,050 | $109,270 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $35.37 | $39.17 | $48.39 | $58.30 | $65.44 | $49.39 | 20,940 | 2.16 | 1.26 |
| Annual | $73,580 | $81,470 | $100,660 | $121,270 | $136,120 | $102,740 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $35.40 | $40.22 | $48.58 | $51.69 | $59.08 | $47.36 | 16,290 | 1.64 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $73,630 | $83,650 | $101,040 | $107,520 | $122,880 | $98,510 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $37.00 | $39.58 | $48.74 | $56.08 | $61.09 | $48.87 | 11,710 | 1.93 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $76,960 | $82,320 | $101,380 | $116,650 | $127,060 | $101,650 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $49.93 | $59.36 | $68.26 | $77.29 | $90.42 | $69.73 | 3,140 | 1.32 | 0.77 |
| Annual | $103,860 | $123,470 | $141,980 | $160,770 | $188,070 | $145,040 | ||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $48.53 | $54.91 | $68.04 | $74.60 | $81.96 | $63.78 | 300 | 2.11 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $100,940 | $114,200 | $141,530 | $155,160 | $170,480 | $132,660 | ||||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | Hourly | $49.81 | $56.92 | $67.36 | $75.45 | $80.54 | $65.15 | 290 | 1.39 | 0.81 |
| Annual | $103,600 | $118,390 | $140,100 | $156,930 | $167,530 | $135,520 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $50.00 | $59.20 | $66.83 | $79.41 | $82.48 | $67.35 | 1,460 | 1.28 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $104,000 | $123,130 | $139,000 | $165,170 | $171,560 | $140,090 | ||||
| Napa, CA | Hourly | $50.42 | $56.25 | $66.61 | $74.40 | $80.12 | $65.56 | 50 | 0.69 | 0.40 |
| Annual | $104,870 | $117,000 | $138,540 | $154,760 | $166,660 | $136,360 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.25 | $45.91 | $51.75 | $62.19 | $68.21 | $53.11 | 21,240 | 2.24 | 1.30 |
| Annual | $75,390 | $95,500 | $107,650 | $129,360 | $141,870 | $110,480 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $41.15 | $47.04 | $52.01 | $64.50 | $76.96 | $55.71 | 9,750 | 1.56 | 0.90 |
| Annual | $85,580 | $97,850 | $108,170 | $134,160 | $160,070 | $115,890 | ||||
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | Hourly | $40.97 | $47.17 | $50.83 | $59.48 | $68.42 | $53.11 | 7,880 | 1.75 | 1.02 |
| Annual | $85,220 | $98,120 | $105,720 | $123,720 | $142,320 | $110,460 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $38.58 | $46.01 | $50.86 | $57.96 | $63.34 | $51.88 | 6,250 | 2.16 | 1.25 |
| Annual | $80,240 | $95,700 | $105,790 | $120,550 | $131,760 | $107,920 | ||||
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | Hourly | $37.16 | $42.43 | $51.82 | $61.38 | $69.59 | $53.16 | 6,100 | 1.51 | 0.88 |
| Annual | $77,280 | $88,250 | $107,780 | $127,670 | $144,740 | $110,570 | ||||
Top industries employing physical therapists
Offices of Other Health Practitioners employ 38.8% of physical therapists nationally (103,680 jobs) at a median $97,290 a year ($46.78 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (23.0%) and Home Health Care Services (11.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners NAICS 621300 | 103,680 | 38.8% | $97,290 | $46.78 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 61,520 | 23.0% | $106,890 | $51.39 |
| Home Health Care Services NAICS 621600 | 30,920 | 11.6% | $114,740 | $55.16 |
| Offices of Physicians NAICS 621100 | 17,150 | 6.4% | $102,010 | $49.04 |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) NAICS 623100 | 13,390 | 5.0% | $111,740 | $53.72 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (267,330). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $95,620 for physical therapists in May 2021 and $102,760 in May 2025, with employment of 225,350 and 267,330.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $95,620 | $45.97 | 225,350 |
| May 2022 | $97,720 | $46.98 | 229,740 |
| May 2023 | $99,710 | $47.94 | 240,820 |
| May 2024 | $101,020 | $48.57 | 248,630 |
| May 2025 | $102,760 | $49.40 | 267,330 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
51 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California profile | $59.71 | $124,190 | $85,580 | $163,960 | 26,580 | 1.46 | 0.85 |
| 2 | Alaska profile | $55.43 | $115,280 | $97,950 | $133,690 | 680 | 2.10 | 1.22 |
| 3 | New Jersey profile | $53.91 | $112,140 | $84,640 | $140,040 | 9,750 | 2.28 | 1.32 |
| 4 | Nevada profile | $53.48 | $111,250 | $86,260 | $190,620 | 2,030 | 1.31 | 0.76 |
| 5 | Maryland profile | $51.39 | $106,890 | $79,990 | $138,630 | 3,940 | 1.43 | 0.83 |
| 6 | New Mexico profile | $51.38 | $106,880 | $77,260 | $146,400 | 1,330 | 1.52 | 0.89 |
| 7 | Washington profile | $50.94 | $105,950 | $78,300 | $137,560 | 5,370 | 1.51 | 0.88 |
| 8 | Texas profile | $50.87 | $105,810 | $76,600 | $139,050 | 21,870 | 1.55 | 0.90 |
| 9 | Illinois profile | $50.60 | $105,250 | $83,000 | $140,410 | 9,800 | 1.61 | 0.93 |
| 10 | Connecticut profile | $50.17 | $104,360 | $82,110 | $127,150 | 4,060 | 2.40 | 1.39 |
| 11 | Massachusetts profile | $49.90 | $103,790 | $82,760 | $130,220 | 6,850 | 1.88 | 1.09 |
| 12 | Oregon profile | $49.77 | $103,510 | $79,440 | $133,950 | 3,210 | 1.63 | 0.95 |
| 13 | Arizona profile | $49.62 | $103,220 | $81,560 | $134,050 | 5,170 | 1.60 | 0.93 |
| 14 | Ohio profile | $49.54 | $103,050 | $79,070 | $126,060 | 10,280 | 1.85 | 1.08 |
| 15 | Georgia profile | $49.38 | $102,700 | $78,580 | $130,630 | 6,780 | 1.39 | 0.81 |
| 16 | Delaware profile | $49.06 | $102,050 | $79,930 | $136,350 | 1,260 | 2.60 | 1.51 |
| 17 | Colorado profile | $49.05 | $102,030 | $76,460 | $132,010 | 5,630 | 1.96 | 1.14 |
| 18 | Minnesota profile | $49.04 | $102,010 | $83,570 | $121,340 | 5,180 | 1.76 | 1.02 |
| 19 | Wisconsin profile | $48.96 | $101,840 | $80,740 | $124,640 | 5,580 | 1.90 | 1.10 |
| 20 | Hawaii profile | $48.90 | $101,700 | $78,630 | $123,280 | 950 | 1.52 | 0.88 |
| 21 | District of Columbia profile | $48.87 | $101,640 | $85,620 | $129,470 | 610 | 0.86 | 0.50 |
| 22 | Indiana profile | $48.83 | $101,560 | $76,960 | $125,390 | 6,130 | 1.92 | 1.11 |
| 23 | Virginia profile | $48.78 | $101,450 | $75,720 | $132,860 | 7,630 | 1.86 | 1.08 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania profile | $48.74 | $101,380 | $76,960 | $127,060 | 11,710 | 1.93 | 1.12 |
| 25 | South Carolina profile | $48.72 | $101,330 | $72,810 | $123,480 | 3,930 | 1.71 | 0.99 |
| 26 | Florida profile | $48.58 | $101,040 | $73,630 | $122,880 | 16,290 | 1.64 | 0.95 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $48.51 | $100,900 | $79,600 | $123,980 | 8,630 | 1.96 | 1.14 |
| 28 | Kentucky profile | $48.42 | $100,710 | $73,900 | $126,920 | 3,390 | 1.69 | 0.98 |
| 29 | New York profile | $48.39 | $100,660 | $73,580 | $136,120 | 20,940 | 2.16 | 1.26 |
| 30 | Wyoming profile | $48.27 | $100,400 | $75,900 | $125,930 | 560 | 1.98 | 1.15 |
| 31 | Tennessee profile | $48.15 | $100,140 | $67,280 | $127,500 | 4,800 | 1.46 | 0.85 |
| 32 | Mississippi profile | $48.07 | $99,990 | $73,700 | $121,740 | 1,980 | 1.70 | 0.99 |
| 33 | North Carolina profile | $48.03 | $99,910 | $78,020 | $125,940 | 7,350 | 1.49 | 0.86 |
| 34 | Utah profile | $48.02 | $99,880 | $66,160 | $136,970 | 2,300 | 1.33 | 0.77 |
| 35 | New Hampshire profile | $48.01 | $99,850 | $76,180 | $122,560 | 1,960 | 2.87 | 1.67 |
| 36 | Maine profile | $47.94 | $99,720 | $78,020 | $121,030 | 1,860 | 2.90 | 1.69 |
| 37 | Rhode Island profile | $47.79 | $99,400 | $80,770 | $125,390 | 1,020 | 2.03 | 1.18 |
| 38 | Missouri profile | $47.75 | $99,310 | $76,110 | $124,530 | 4,900 | 1.67 | 0.97 |
| 39 | Arkansas profile | $47.60 | $99,010 | $73,050 | $127,210 | 2,680 | 2.06 | 1.20 |
| 40 | Idaho profile | $47.60 | $99,000 | $74,570 | $122,100 | 1,030 | 1.21 | 0.70 |
| 41 | Oklahoma profile | $47.40 | $98,590 | $68,330 | $128,000 | 2,560 | 1.50 | 0.87 |
| 42 | Louisiana profile | $47.37 | $98,530 | $60,150 | $127,640 | 3,280 | 1.69 | 0.99 |
| 43 | Kansas profile | $47.25 | $98,290 | $72,290 | $122,130 | 2,660 | 1.85 | 1.07 |
| 44 | Vermont profile | $47.10 | $97,970 | $75,040 | $115,860 | 760 | 2.50 | 1.45 |
| 45 | Iowa profile | $46.90 | $97,560 | $73,780 | $120,730 | 2,530 | 1.63 | 0.95 |
| 46 | Alabama profile | $46.77 | $97,290 | $74,770 | $133,710 | 3,040 | 1.44 | 0.84 |
| 47 | Nebraska profile | $46.68 | $97,090 | $77,540 | $120,190 | 2,140 | 2.09 | 1.22 |
| 48 | West Virginia profile | $46.44 | $96,600 | $73,130 | $126,380 | 1,310 | 1.86 | 1.08 |
| 49 | South Dakota profile | $44.55 | $92,660 | $77,890 | $107,870 | 1,060 | 2.32 | 1.35 |
| 50 | Montana profile | $43.97 | $91,450 | $78,490 | $115,540 | 1,180 | 2.32 | 1.35 |
| 51 | North Dakota profile | $41.02 | $85,330 | $75,290 | $113,600 | 830 | 1.93 | 1.12 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (29-1120), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 29-1123 Physical Therapists.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 29-1123, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 29-1123.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.