Physical Therapists Salary 2025: $104,738 Median Pay (BLS OEWS)
$104,738 per year is the national median annual wage for physical therapists (BLS OEWS, May 2025 reference period). That works out to about $50/hour, with a 10th–90th percentile range of $103,860 to $188,070. The Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies this role under SOC code 29-1123.
Key Facts (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Median annual wage
- $104,738
- Median hourly wage
- $50/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $107,923
- Total US employment
- 163,910
- Top-paying metro
- San Francisco, CA, CA ($141,980)
- BLS SOC code
- 29-1123
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 release.
Physical Therapist (SOC 29-1123) is a high-paying U.S. occupation: national median wage of $104,738 across 163,910 reported workers per the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey.
Cross-city wage variation runs moderate — $83,070 to $141,980 median across 70 cities, about 71% above the floor. The spread is large enough to matter for relocation decisions but not large enough to dominate them. Physical Therapist is in the Healthcare category — wages here reflect a regulated labor market with state-specific licensing and credentialing, which constrains supply more than it does in unregulated fields.
Salary Range (BLS Percentiles)
Physical Therapists salaries range from $83,070 to $141,980 median across cities, depending on location, experience, and industry.
Physical Therapists Salary by City (BLS OEWS)
| City | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | COL-Adjusted | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $103,860 | $119,108 | $141,980 | $165,025 | $188,070 | $79,053 | 3,140 |
| San Jose, CA | $104,000 | $118,000 | $139,000 | $155,280 | $171,560 | $70,991 | 1,460 |
| Sacramento, CA | $99,240 | $112,116 | $131,430 | $145,340 | $159,250 | $105,397 | 1,610 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $98,300 | $109,176 | $125,490 | $140,930 | $156,370 | $124,742 | 310 |
| Fresno, CA | $96,250 | $107,278 | $123,820 | $133,295 | $142,770 | $117,365 | 620 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino, CA | $97,370 | $106,466 | $120,110 | $142,240 | $164,370 | $98,129 | 2,240 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $86,260 | $98,348 | $116,480 | $153,590 | $190,700 | $106,862 | 1,530 |
| San Diego, CA | $77,500 | $92,040 | $113,850 | $136,275 | $158,700 | $71,067 | 2,680 |
| Anchorage, AK | $97,330 | $103,434 | $112,590 | $122,945 | $133,300 | $88,654 | 460 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $85,580 | $94,616 | $108,170 | $134,120 | $160,070 | $65,163 | 9,750 |
| Dallas, TX | $77,280 | $89,480 | $107,780 | $126,260 | $144,740 | $103,535 | 6,100 |
| Houston, TX | $78,250 | $90,030 | $107,700 | $125,135 | $142,570 | $111,606 | 4,680 |
| New York, NY | $75,390 | $88,294 | $107,650 | $124,760 | $141,870 | $57,505 | 21,240 |
| Seattle, WA | $64,790 | $81,790 | $107,290 | $126,125 | $144,960 | $71,814 | 2,950 |
| Reno, NV | $95,260 | $99,892 | $106,840 | $124,080 | $141,320 | $100,319 | 360 |
| Portland, OR | $82,270 | $91,862 | $106,250 | $120,430 | $134,610 | $81,668 | 1,810 |
| San Antonio, TX | $76,010 | $88,010 | $106,010 | $121,625 | $137,240 | $115,858 | 1,700 |
| Baltimore, MD | $78,530 | $89,442 | $105,810 | $122,220 | $138,630 | $92,653 | 2,050 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $80,240 | $90,460 | $105,790 | $118,775 | $131,760 | $89,350 | 6,250 |
| Chicago, IL | $85,220 | $93,420 | $105,720 | $124,020 | $142,320 | $98,527 | 7,880 |
| Hartford, CT | $81,450 | $90,962 | $105,230 | $113,985 | $122,740 | $93,455 | 1,370 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $83,980 | $92,452 | $105,160 | $120,035 | $134,910 | $76,480 | 1,030 |
| Columbus, OH | $79,060 | $89,488 | $105,130 | $114,620 | $124,110 | $112,922 | 2,030 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $62,090 | $78,790 | $103,840 | $119,900 | $135,960 | $102,406 | 1,040 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $77,790 | $88,182 | $103,770 | $114,265 | $124,760 | $115,172 | 2,790 |
| Austin, TX | $82,330 | $90,850 | $103,630 | $119,475 | $135,320 | $100,612 | 2,470 |
| Boston, MA | $81,220 | $90,152 | $103,550 | $116,885 | $130,220 | $68,080 | 5,330 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $77,570 | $87,946 | $103,510 | $119,415 | $135,320 | $110,117 | 690 |
| Atlanta, GA | $81,280 | $90,144 | $103,440 | $117,770 | $132,100 | $104,274 | 4,250 |
| Nashville, TN | $68,060 | $82,188 | $103,380 | $116,405 | $129,430 | $103,071 | 1,400 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $82,840 | $90,992 | $103,220 | $118,815 | $134,410 | $102,502 | 3,760 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $83,090 | $91,066 | $103,030 | $114,100 | $125,170 | $105,780 | 1,710 |
| Washington, DC | $79,080 | $88,640 | $102,980 | $120,025 | $137,070 | $67,395 | 4,540 |
| Detroit, MI | $80,690 | $89,602 | $102,970 | $117,055 | $131,140 | $108,275 | 3,770 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $80,190 | $89,270 | $102,890 | $114,345 | $125,800 | $112,818 | 2,090 |
| Madison, WI | $80,340 | $89,328 | $102,810 | $113,015 | $123,220 | $99,046 | 900 |
| Richmond, VA | $77,870 | $87,802 | $102,700 | $114,295 | $125,890 | $100,588 | 1,300 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $86,590 | $92,934 | $102,450 | $111,895 | $121,340 | $96,469 | 3,360 |
| Tampa, FL | $80,230 | $89,110 | $102,430 | $111,560 | $120,690 | $102,841 | 2,350 |
| Tucson, AZ | $80,410 | $89,214 | $102,420 | $119,500 | $136,580 | $107,358 | 660 |
| Denver, CO | $79,040 | $88,360 | $102,340 | $118,490 | $134,640 | $90,727 | 2,730 |
| Louisville, KY | $77,800 | $87,584 | $102,260 | $112,195 | $122,130 | $113,370 | 1,140 |
| Orlando, FL | $78,280 | $87,580 | $101,530 | $110,745 | $119,960 | $98,477 | 1,560 |
| Kansas City, MO | $75,170 | $85,610 | $101,270 | $113,530 | $125,790 | $106,153 | 2,010 |
| Charlotte, NC | $80,840 | $88,928 | $101,060 | $113,620 | $126,180 | $104,509 | 1,680 |
| Greenville, SC | $78,390 | $87,442 | $101,020 | $111,320 | $121,620 | $112,120 | 940 |
| Miami, FL | $60,370 | $76,570 | $100,870 | $113,115 | $125,360 | $81,942 | 4,950 |
| Tulsa, OK | $74,780 | $85,204 | $100,840 | $114,175 | $127,510 | $116,175 | 710 |
| St. Louis, MO | $77,390 | $86,674 | $100,600 | $112,395 | $124,190 | $111,778 | 2,480 |
| New Orleans, LA | $60,150 | $76,302 | $100,530 | $112,215 | $123,900 | $104,828 | 710 |
| Providence, RI | $80,470 | $88,398 | $100,290 | $114,755 | $129,220 | $83,995 | 1,440 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $80,640 | $88,444 | $100,150 | $110,300 | $120,450 | $105,310 | 1,330 |
| Boise, ID | $79,120 | $87,520 | $100,120 | $111,315 | $122,510 | $98,061 | 400 |
| Memphis, TN | $71,240 | $82,744 | $100,000 | $113,045 | $126,090 | $119,048 | 800 |
| Little Rock, AR | $73,640 | $84,160 | $99,940 | $113,210 | $126,480 | $113,311 | 1,040 |
| Raleigh, NC | $78,490 | $87,054 | $99,900 | $113,715 | $127,530 | $100,100 | 1,190 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $73,740 | $84,136 | $99,730 | $113,190 | $126,650 | $115,295 | 1,120 |
| Spokane, WA | $80,120 | $87,948 | $99,690 | $113,370 | $127,050 | $102,351 | 580 |
| Omaha, NE | $77,540 | $86,376 | $99,630 | $110,010 | $120,390 | $108,529 | 1,120 |
| Greensboro, NC | $78,720 | $86,960 | $99,320 | $111,140 | $122,960 | $108,784 | 540 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $74,710 | $83,986 | $97,900 | $116,550 | $135,200 | $93,684 | 790 |
| Des Moines, IA | $75,510 | $84,422 | $97,790 | $109,260 | $120,730 | $104,812 | 740 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $76,800 | $85,180 | $97,750 | $107,985 | $118,220 | $105,905 | 2,120 |
| Birmingham, AL | $77,750 | $85,750 | $97,750 | $116,025 | $134,300 | $108,131 | 1,030 |
| Wichita, KS | $71,960 | $82,136 | $97,400 | $108,090 | $118,780 | $115,952 | 580 |
| Knoxville, TN | $64,850 | $77,354 | $96,110 | $110,150 | $124,190 | $106,434 | 590 |
| Buffalo, NY | $66,210 | $78,046 | $95,800 | $106,110 | $116,420 | $103,568 | 1,410 |
| Lexington, KY | $65,700 | $77,304 | $94,710 | $108,965 | $123,220 | $103,735 | 590 |
| Albany, NY | $71,130 | $80,286 | $94,020 | $101,265 | $108,510 | $93,366 | 790 |
| Rochester, NY | $66,070 | $72,870 | $83,070 | $97,905 | $112,740 | $89,419 | 1,140 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The national median salary for Physical Therapist is $104,738 as of 2025. The national mean (average) is $107,923. Salaries range from $83,070 to $141,980 depending on city and cost of living.
Physical Therapist salaries vary significantly by metro area. The highest-paying cities offer median salaries well above the national average of $104,738, though cost of living should be factored in. Check the city breakdown table above for COL-adjusted figures.
There are approximately 163,910 Physical Therapist positions in the US across 70 metropolitan areas tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Physical Therapist positions at the 90th percentile earn significantly more than the median, suggesting strong income growth potential with experience and specialization. The gap between the 10th and 90th percentile indicates the impact that skills, location, and seniority have on compensation.
Salary data from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. COL adjustments use BEA Regional Price Parities.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2026.