Physical Therapists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for physical therapists is $102,760, or $49.40 per hour. About 267,330 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $124,190 in California to $85,330 in North Dakota.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 51 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $124,190 | $59.71 | 26,580 | 0.85 |
| 2 | Alaska | $115,280 | $55.43 | 680 | 1.22 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $112,140 | $53.91 | 9,750 | 1.32 |
| 4 | Nevada | $111,250 | $53.48 | 2,030 | 0.76 |
| 5 | Maryland | $106,890 | $51.39 | 3,940 | 0.83 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $106,880 | $51.38 | 1,330 | 0.89 |
| 7 | Washington | $105,950 | $50.94 | 5,370 | 0.88 |
| 8 | Texas | $105,810 | $50.87 | 21,870 | 0.90 |
| 9 | Illinois | $105,250 | $50.60 | 9,800 | 0.93 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $104,360 | $50.17 | 4,060 | 1.39 |
| 11 | Massachusetts | $103,790 | $49.90 | 6,850 | 1.09 |
| 12 | Oregon | $103,510 | $49.77 | 3,210 | 0.95 |
| 13 | Arizona | $103,220 | $49.62 | 5,170 | 0.93 |
| 14 | Ohio | $103,050 | $49.54 | 10,280 | 1.08 |
| 15 | Georgia | $102,700 | $49.38 | 6,780 | 0.81 |
| 16 | Delaware | $102,050 | $49.06 | 1,260 | 1.51 |
| 17 | Colorado | $102,030 | $49.05 | 5,630 | 1.14 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $102,010 | $49.04 | 5,180 | 1.02 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $101,840 | $48.96 | 5,580 | 1.10 |
| 20 | Hawaii | $101,700 | $48.90 | 950 | 0.88 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $101,640 | $48.87 | 610 | 0.50 |
| 22 | Indiana | $101,560 | $48.83 | 6,130 | 1.11 |
| 23 | Virginia | $101,450 | $48.78 | 7,630 | 1.08 |
| 24 | Pennsylvania | $101,380 | $48.74 | 11,710 | 1.12 |
| 25 | South Carolina | $101,330 | $48.72 | 3,930 | 0.99 |
| 26 | Florida | $101,040 | $48.58 | 16,290 | 0.95 |
| 27 | Michigan | $100,900 | $48.51 | 8,630 | 1.14 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $100,710 | $48.42 | 3,390 | 0.98 |
| 29 | New York | $100,660 | $48.39 | 20,940 | 1.26 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $100,400 | $48.27 | 560 | 1.15 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $100,140 | $48.15 | 4,800 | 0.85 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $99,990 | $48.07 | 1,980 | 0.99 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $99,910 | $48.03 | 7,350 | 0.86 |
| 34 | Utah | $99,880 | $48.02 | 2,300 | 0.77 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $99,850 | $48.01 | 1,960 | 1.67 |
| 36 | Maine | $99,720 | $47.94 | 1,860 | 1.69 |
| 37 | Rhode Island | $99,400 | $47.79 | 1,020 | 1.18 |
| 38 | Missouri | $99,310 | $47.75 | 4,900 | 0.97 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $99,010 | $47.60 | 2,680 | 1.20 |
| 40 | Idaho | $99,000 | $47.60 | 1,030 | 0.70 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $98,590 | $47.40 | 2,560 | 0.87 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $98,530 | $47.37 | 3,280 | 0.99 |
| 43 | Kansas | $98,290 | $47.25 | 2,660 | 1.07 |
| 44 | Vermont | $97,970 | $47.10 | 760 | 1.45 |
| 45 | Iowa | $97,560 | $46.90 | 2,530 | 0.95 |
| 46 | Alabama | $97,290 | $46.77 | 3,040 | 0.84 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $97,090 | $46.68 | 2,140 | 1.22 |
| 48 | West Virginia | $96,600 | $46.44 | 1,310 | 1.08 |
| 49 | South Dakota | $92,660 | $44.55 | 1,060 | 1.35 |
| 50 | Montana | $91,450 | $43.97 | 1,180 | 1.35 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $85,330 | $41.02 | 830 | 1.12 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do physical therapists make?
The median annual wage for physical therapists in the United States is $102,760, or $49.40 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $77,140, and the top 10% earn $135,140.
How many physical therapists are employed in the U.S.?
About 267,330 people work as physical therapists nationwide.
Which state pays physical therapists the most?
California pays the most at a median of $124,190, followed by Alaska ($115,280) and New Jersey ($112,140).
Which state pays physical therapists the least?
North Dakota has the lowest median at $85,330.
Where are physical therapists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Maine at 1.69×.