Physical Therapist Salary in Houston, TX
Physical Therapists in Houston, TX earn a median of $77,000/year, ranging from $59,290 (25th percentile) to $123,200 (90th percentile). After Texas state taxes (0%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 107), this is equivalent to $71,963 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Houston, TX
Physical therapists here often land positions at large hospital systems like Houston Methodist, Memorial Hermann, and Texas Children's Hospital, which operate multiple facilities across the metro and offer stable schedules. The no-state-income-tax situation is a genuine financial advantage compared to many other major metros - that matters when you're looking at salaries in the upper $70,000s to low $90,000s. Rent for a two-bedroom in neighborhoods like Midtown or Montrose runs around $1,400-$1,600 monthly, though you can find cheaper options farther south near the Medical Center. Houston sprawls enough that you'll likely drive to patient sites; the 610 loop and 288 corridor see heavy commute traffic, but timing shifts around clinic hours helps. The concentration of medical facilities here - the Texas Medical Center alone employs thousands - means steady demand and decent career mobility within the city.
1Salary Distribution in Houston, TX
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Houston, TX Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX (current) | $77,000 | 107 | $71,963 |
| Austin, TX | $84,000 | 124 | $67,742 |
| Dallas, TX | $79,000 | 112 | $70,536 |
| El Paso, TX | $53,000 | 85 | $62,353 |
| San Francisco, CA | $105,000 | 186 | $56,452 |
| New York, NY | $101,000 | 187 | $54,011 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physical Therapist salary in Houston, TX?
The median Physical Therapist salary in Houston, TX is $77,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $59,290 and the 90th percentile is $123,200.
Is Houston, TX a good place to work as a Physical Therapist?
Houston, TX has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $77,000 Physical Therapist salary in Houston, TX is equivalent to $71,963 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Houston, TX?
Houston, TX has a cost of living index of 107, meaning it is 7% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in Texas is approximately 0%.
What is the Physical Therapist salary range in Houston, TX?
In Houston, TX, Physical Therapists earn between $59,290 (25th percentile) and $123,200 (90th percentile), with a median of $77,000 per year.
How many Physical Therapist jobs are there in Houston, TX?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 42,000 Physical Therapist positions in the Houston, TX metropolitan area.
What do Physical Therapists earn in Houston, TX?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Physical Therapists in Houston, TX earn a median annual wage of $77,000. The middle 50% earn between $59,290 and $98,560. The top 10% earn more than $123,200. There are approximately 42,000 Physical Therapists employed in the Houston, TX metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 4.3%.
Is Houston, TX a good place for a Physical Therapist?
Houston, TX has a cost of living index of 107 (US average = 100), making it 7% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Physical Therapist in Houston, TX earning $77,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $71,963 relative to the US median. Texas has no state income tax, which is a significant financial advantage.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Houston, TX?
Houston, TX's cost of living index is 107, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $77,000 in Houston, TXhas the same purchasing power as $71,963 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Houston, TX with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Physical Therapist in Houston, TX?
The headline median of $77,000 is only part of the picture. Houston, TX's cost of living index is 107 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 93¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $77,000 salary effectively purchases $71,963 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Houston, TX, housing costs fall closer to the national average of 25–30% of gross income, leaving more room in the budget for savings, transportation, and discretionary spending. For a $77,000 salary, that translates to roughly $21,560/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. Texas has no state income tax, which is typically worth 4–8% of gross salary versus a high-tax state. For this role, that's roughly $4,620 per year in additional take-home. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $71,148. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: Austin, TX ($84,000 median, COL 124); Dallas, TX ($79,000 median, COL 112); El Paso, TX ($53,000 median, COL 85). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 4.3% year-over-year growth rate for Physical Therapists in Houston, TX is a leading indicator of market health. Healthy growth at a steady pace — enough to support mobility but not so fast that compensation is racing ahead of credentials. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Physical Therapists or the Texas state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.