Physical Therapist Salary Comparison Tool

What is the average physical therapist salary in 2026?

The BLS reports a median annual wage of $101,020 for physical therapists in 2024, with the top quarter earning above $117,190 depending on setting and location.

BLS data from May 2024 places the median annual physical therapist wage at $101,020, with the bottom decile earning below $72,260 and the top decile earning above $130,870. The spread reflects wide variation tied to setting, specialization, and geography, per the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

The 25th-to-75th percentile band runs from $83,470 to $117,190, based on BLS data reported by U.S. News. Most PTs land in this range, which means a salary above $117,000 signals strong market positioning while anything below $83,000 warrants a closer look at market alignment.

Growth adds upward pressure on wages. The profession is projected to expand 11 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average, per BLS estimates. High demand relative to supply typically supports salary growth, making this a favorable environment for PTs to negotiate.

How does physical therapist salary differ by practice setting?

Setting accounts for a $15,000-plus annual pay gap, with outpatient care centers averaging $118,800 versus $103,590 at skilled nursing facilities, per BLS-sourced data.

Practice setting is one of the most powerful drivers of physical therapist pay, often outweighing years of experience. According to U.S. News, drawing from BLS data, outpatient care centers average $118,800 annually. Home health care services follow at $113,970, with educational support services at $110,390.

Skilled nursing facilities average $103,590, more than $15,000 below the top-paying outpatient setting. Many PTs stay in SNF or private practice roles without realizing the gap. A 2021-2022 APTA survey cited by PTEverywhere found that private practice PTs earned a median gross wage of $85,000, compared to $93,000 for hospital-based outpatient clinicians in the same period.

The practical implication is clear: a PT considering a setting change should quantify the compensation difference alongside the lifestyle and clinical trade-offs. Moving from private practice to home health or a hospital outpatient clinic can produce a salary increase equivalent to several years of merit raises.

How does physical therapist salary grow with experience?

Entry-level PT pay starts around $76,000 to $84,000 annually, with senior specialists reaching an estimated $126,000 to $142,000 after 10 or more years.

Salary progression in physical therapy is meaningful but not automatic. Entry-level PTs with zero to two years of experience typically earn in the range of $76,000 to $84,000 per year, based on 2026 estimates from Pioneer Healthcare. Mid-career clinicians with five to eight years of experience can expect roughly $98,000 to $113,000.

Senior physical therapists with 10 or more years of experience, particularly those with specialty certifications, are estimated to reach $126,000 to $142,000 annually, representing a 25 to 35 percent increase over starting pay, per Pioneer Healthcare's 2026 analysis. These figures are directional estimates from a staffing industry source and should be cross-checked against BLS data for your specific metro.

The key insight for mid-career PTs is this: stagnant pay is not inevitable. If your salary has not grown proportionally with experience, comparing your current compensation against setting-specific and experience-matched benchmarks gives you concrete data to anchor a raise conversation.

Which states and cities pay physical therapists the most in 2026?

California leads all states at a mean of $120,970, roughly 20 percent above the national median, with San Jose reaching $143,000 among metro areas.

Geography creates large salary differences for physical therapists even within the same specialty and setting. California tops all states with a mean annual wage of $120,970, followed by Nevada ($113,700), Alaska ($113,190), the District of Columbia ($109,970), and New Jersey ($109,470), according to U.S. News citing BLS data.

At the metro level, California cities dominate. San Jose leads at $143,000, followed by San Francisco at $136,300 and Merced at $131,130. These figures suggest that relocation to a high-paying market can produce a 20 to 40 percent salary increase before any other variables change.

Cost of living must enter the calculation. California's housing and tax burden are substantial. A PT earning $121,000 in California may have similar or lower purchasing power than one earning $101,000 in a lower-cost state. Adjusting for local cost of living is an important step before committing to a relocation decision.

Is travel physical therapy worth the salary premium?

Travel PT roles can pay $100,000 to $150,000 annually, a notable premium over many permanent staff positions, but require weighing tax, benefits, and lifestyle trade-offs.

Travel physical therapy offers one of the clearest paths to above-median pay in the profession. According to ClinicSense, travel PT roles can pay between $100,000 and $150,000 annually. By comparison, the BLS median for all PTs is $101,020, meaning even mid-range travel assignments can exceed the national median.

The trade-offs are real. Travel PTs typically work on 13-week contracts, manage their own tax home status, and often receive housing stipends that are tax-free but complicate financial planning. Benefits such as retirement matching and health insurance may be reduced relative to permanent staff roles.

For PTs in the early or mid stages of their career, a travel assignment in a high-demand state can accelerate both salary growth and clinical exposure. Running a direct comparison between your current staff rate and a travel rate in your target region is the most straightforward way to quantify the premium.