Physical Therapist Salary
Physical therapists help patients improve movement and manage pain after injuries, illnesses, or surgeries. They develop individualized treatment plans using exercise, manual therapy, and patient education.
National Salary Distribution
Top Paying Cities for Physical Therapist
| # | City | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $141,980 |
| 2 | San Diego, CA | $113,850 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $108,170 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $107,780 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $107,700 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $107,650 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $107,290 |
| 8 | Portland, OR | $106,250 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $105,720 |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | $105,130 |
Highest After Local Prices
| # | City | Price Level | At National Prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | 115.6 | $122,806 |
| 2 | El Paso, TX | 89.9 | $113,656 |
| 3 | Oklahoma City, OK | 90.4 | $110,311 |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | 95.5 | $110,120 |
| 5 | Louisville, KY | 93.1 | $109,870 |
| 6 | Houston, TX | 98.6 | $109,197 |
| 7 | Memphis, TN | 92.2 | $108,485 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | 95.7 | $108,437 |
| 9 | Nashville, TN | 96.3 | $107,310 |
| 10 | Austin, TX | 98.1 | $105,674 |
Physical Therapist Salary — All Cities
| City | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $123,470 | $141,980 | $160,770 | $188,070 | 3,140 |
| San Diego, CA | $96,820 | $113,850 | $133,860 | $158,700 | 2,680 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $97,850 | $108,170 | $134,160 | $160,070 | 9,750 |
| Dallas, TX | $88,250 | $107,780 | $127,670 | $144,740 | 6,100 |
| Houston, TX | $94,430 | $107,700 | $127,640 | $142,570 | 4,680 |
| New York, NY | $95,500 | $107,650 | $129,360 | $141,870 | 21,240 |
| Seattle, WA | $95,060 | $107,290 | $133,070 | $144,960 | 2,950 |
| Portland, OR | $93,140 | $106,250 | $129,260 | $134,610 | 1,810 |
| Chicago, IL | $98,120 | $105,720 | $123,720 | $142,320 | 7,880 |
| Columbus, OH | $83,110 | $105,130 | $113,370 | $124,110 | 2,030 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $82,720 | $103,840 | $112,970 | $135,960 | 1,040 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $82,920 | $103,770 | $116,540 | $124,760 | 2,790 |
| Austin, TX | $97,080 | $103,630 | $130,880 | $135,320 | 2,470 |
| Boston, MA | $94,750 | $103,550 | $122,380 | $130,220 | 5,330 |
| Atlanta, GA | $84,290 | $103,440 | $120,660 | $132,100 | 4,250 |
| Nashville, TN | $84,690 | $103,380 | $108,990 | $129,430 | 1,400 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $90,180 | $103,220 | $122,360 | $134,410 | 3,760 |
| Washington, DC | $94,680 | $102,980 | $127,020 | $137,070 | 4,540 |
| Detroit, MI | $88,190 | $102,970 | $112,120 | $131,140 | 3,770 |
| Richmond, VA | $83,890 | $102,700 | $118,370 | $125,890 | 1,300 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $97,410 | $102,450 | $107,710 | $121,340 | 3,360 |
| Denver, CO | $83,840 | $102,340 | $121,290 | $134,640 | 2,730 |
| Louisville, KY | $82,070 | $102,260 | $116,670 | $122,130 | 1,140 |
| El Paso, TX | $80,860 | $102,190 | $121,790 | $139,050 | 550 |
| Charlotte, NC | $94,070 | $101,060 | $115,370 | $126,180 | 1,680 |
| Miami, FL | $82,100 | $100,870 | $107,700 | $125,360 | 4,950 |
| Memphis, TN | $80,740 | $100,000 | $111,240 | $126,090 | 800 |
| Raleigh, NC | $85,320 | $99,900 | $110,740 | $127,530 | 1,190 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $79,970 | $99,730 | $107,390 | $126,650 | 1,120 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $78,190 | $97,750 | $104,020 | $118,220 | 2,120 |
5About the Physical Therapist Role
Physical therapists help patients improve movement and manage pain after injuries, illnesses, or surgeries. They develop individualized treatment plans using exercise, manual therapy, and patient education.
Compensation for Physical Therapists varies by metro — from $97,750 at the low end in Pittsburgh, PA to $141,980 in San Francisco, CA. The $44,230 gap is a gap in dollars. The second table above lists the 10 highest medians after each is restated at national-average prices using BEA regional price parities, which can change the order.
For side-by-side comparisons between specific metros, use the compare links above or the salary calculator. For state-level figures, see physical therapist salary by state, or browse all occupations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physical Therapist salary in the US?
The national median Physical Therapist salary is $102,760 per year, per the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimate. The 25th percentile is $86,160 and the 90th percentile reaches $135,140.
Which city pays Physical Therapists the most?
Among the 30 metro areas covered here, San Francisco, CA has the highest median wage for Physical Therapists at $141,980 per year (BLS OEWS May 2025). San Diego, CA ($113,850) and Los Angeles, CA ($108,170) are next.