Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Physical therapists (SOC 29-1123) employed 267,330 people in May 2025. The median pay is $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,140 and the highest-paid 10% more than $135,140. BLS projects its employment to change by +11.9% between 2025 and 2035 (about 13,400 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest median pay: California ($124,190), Alaska ($115,280), New Jersey ($112,140). Most jobs: California (26,580), Texas (21,870), New York (20,940).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $77,140 | $37.09 |
| 25th percentile | $86,160 | $41.42 |
| Median | $102,760 | $49.40 |
| Mean | $105,280 | $50.62 |
| 75th percentile | $121,160 | $58.25 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $135,140 | $64.97 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 283,700 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 317,600 |
| Change in jobs | 33,800 |
| Percent change | +11.9% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 13,400 |
| Self-employed share | 4.2% |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3,040 | 0.84 | $97,290 | $74,770 | $133,710 | -5% | 13% |
| Alaska | 680 | 1.22 | $115,280 | $97,950 | $133,690 | +12% | 15% |
| Arizona | 5,170 | 0.93 | $103,220 | $81,560 | $134,050 | +0% | 19% |
| Arkansas | 2,680 | 1.20 | $99,010 | $73,050 | $127,210 | -4% | 12% |
| California | 26,580 | 0.85 | $124,190 | $85,580 | $163,960 | +21% | 20% |
| Colorado | 5,630 | 1.14 | $102,030 | $76,460 | $132,010 | -1% | 21% |
| Connecticut | 4,060 | 1.39 | $104,360 | $82,110 | $127,150 | +2% | 18% |
| Delaware | 1,260 | 1.51 | $102,050 | $79,930 | $136,350 | -1% | 18% |
| District of Columbia | 610 | 0.50 | $101,640 | $85,620 | $129,470 | -1% | 23% |
| Florida | 16,290 | 0.95 | $101,040 | $73,630 | $122,880 | -2% | 22% |
| Georgia | 6,780 | 0.81 | $102,700 | $78,580 | $130,630 | -0% | 18% |
| Hawaii | 950 | 0.88 | $101,700 | $78,630 | $123,280 | -1% | 23% |
| Idaho | 1,030 | 0.70 | $99,000 | $74,570 | $122,100 | -4% | 17% |
| Illinois | 9,800 | 0.93 | $105,250 | $83,000 | $140,410 | +2% | 15% |
| Indiana | 6,130 | 1.11 | $101,560 | $76,960 | $125,390 | -1% | 13% |
| Iowa | 2,530 | 0.95 | $97,560 | $73,780 | $120,730 | -5% | 12% |
| Kansas | 2,660 | 1.07 | $98,290 | $72,290 | $122,130 | -4% | 13% |
| Kentucky | 3,390 | 0.98 | $100,710 | $73,900 | $126,920 | -2% | 12% |
| Louisiana | 3,280 | 0.99 | $98,530 | $60,150 | $127,640 | -4% | 13% |
| Maine | 1,860 | 1.69 | $99,720 | $78,020 | $121,030 | -3% | 15% |
| Maryland | 3,940 | 0.83 | $106,890 | $79,990 | $138,630 | +4% | 19% |
| Massachusetts | 6,850 | 1.09 | $103,790 | $82,760 | $130,220 | +1% | 21% |
| Michigan | 8,630 | 1.14 | $100,900 | $79,600 | $123,980 | -2% | 14% |
| Minnesota | 5,180 | 1.02 | $102,010 | $83,570 | $121,340 | -1% | 15% |
| Mississippi | 1,980 | 0.99 | $99,990 | $73,700 | $121,740 | -3% | 12% |
| Missouri | 4,900 | 0.97 | $99,310 | $76,110 | $124,530 | -3% | 13% |
| Montana | 1,180 | 1.35 | $91,450 | $78,490 | $115,540 | -11% | 15% |
| Nebraska | 2,140 | 1.22 | $97,090 | $77,540 | $120,190 | -6% | 14% |
| Nevada | 2,030 | 0.76 | $111,250 | $86,260 | $190,620 | +8% | 18% |
| New Hampshire | 1,960 | 1.67 | $99,850 | $76,180 | $122,560 | -3% | 19% |
| New Jersey | 9,750 | 1.32 | $112,140 | $84,640 | $140,040 | +9% | 19% |
| New Mexico | 1,330 | 0.89 | $106,880 | $77,260 | $146,400 | +4% | 13% |
| New York | 20,940 | 1.26 | $100,660 | $73,580 | $136,120 | -2% | 19% |
| North Carolina | 7,350 | 0.86 | $99,910 | $78,020 | $125,940 | -3% | 16% |
| North Dakota | 830 | 1.12 | $85,330 | $75,290 | $113,600 | -17% | 14% |
| Ohio | 10,280 | 1.08 | $103,050 | $79,070 | $126,060 | +0% | 13% |
| Oklahoma | 2,560 | 0.87 | $98,590 | $68,330 | $128,000 | -4% | 13% |
| Oregon | 3,210 | 0.95 | $103,510 | $79,440 | $133,950 | +1% | 19% |
| Pennsylvania | 11,710 | 1.12 | $101,380 | $76,960 | $127,060 | -1% | 15% |
| Rhode Island | 1,020 | 1.18 | $99,400 | $80,770 | $125,390 | -3% | 17% |
| South Carolina | 3,930 | 0.99 | $101,330 | $72,810 | $123,480 | -1% | 15% |
| South Dakota | 1,060 | 1.35 | $92,660 | $77,890 | $107,870 | -10% | 13% |
| Tennessee | 4,800 | 0.85 | $100,140 | $67,280 | $127,500 | -3% | 15% |
| Texas | 21,870 | 0.90 | $105,810 | $76,600 | $139,050 | +3% | 17% |
| Utah | 2,300 | 0.77 | $99,880 | $66,160 | $136,970 | -3% | 19% |
| Vermont | 760 | 1.45 | $97,970 | $75,040 | $115,860 | -5% | 16% |
| Virginia | 7,630 | 1.08 | $101,450 | $75,720 | $132,860 | -1% | 19% |
| Washington | 5,370 | 0.88 | $105,950 | $78,300 | $137,560 | +3% | 21% |
| West Virginia | 1,310 | 1.08 | $96,600 | $73,130 | $126,380 | -6% | 11% |
| Wisconsin | 5,580 | 1.10 | $101,840 | $80,740 | $124,640 | -1% | 13% |
| Wyoming | 560 | 1.15 | $100,400 | $75,900 | $125,930 | -2% | 12% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3,140 | $141,980 | $103,860 | $188,070 | 0.77 |
| Vallejo, CA | 300 | $141,530 | $100,940 | $170,480 | 1.23 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 1,460 | $139,000 | $104,000 | $171,560 | 0.75 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,610 | $131,430 | $99,240 | $159,250 | 0.87 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | 310 | $128,680 | $99,680 | $164,830 | 0.90 |
| Modesto, CA | 400 | $126,600 | $87,730 | $163,360 | 1.19 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | 310 | $125,490 | $98,300 | $156,370 | 0.53 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 350 | $124,260 | $91,480 | $156,830 | 0.70 |
| Fresno, CA | 620 | $123,820 | $96,250 | $142,770 | 0.76 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 2,240 | $120,110 | $97,370 | $164,370 | 0.76 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | 550 | $116,770 | $82,220 | $154,660 | 0.99 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 1,530 | $116,480 | $86,260 | $190,700 | 0.78 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2,680 | $113,850 | $77,500 | $158,700 | 1.02 |
| Anchorage, AK | 460 | $112,590 | $97,330 | $133,300 | 1.50 |
| Spartanburg, SC | 350 | $111,860 | $79,650 | $113,030 | 1.24 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 360 | $108,280 | $83,620 | $131,580 | 0.87 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 9,750 | $108,170 | $85,580 | $160,070 | 0.90 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 6,100 | $107,780 | $77,280 | $144,740 | 0.88 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,680 | $107,700 | $78,250 | $142,570 | 0.83 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 21,240 | $107,650 | $75,390 | $141,870 | 1.30 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 2,950 | $107,290 | $64,790 | $144,960 | 0.82 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 570 | $106,980 | $81,940 | $122,130 | 1.50 |
| Reno, NV | 360 | $106,840 | $95,260 | $141,320 | 0.75 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 1,810 | $106,250 | $82,270 | $134,610 | 0.87 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 380 | $106,080 | $74,370 | $130,260 | 1.13 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 1,700 | $106,010 | $76,010 | $137,240 | 0.88 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,050 | $105,810 | $78,530 | $138,630 | 0.88 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 6,250 | $105,790 | $80,240 | $131,760 | 1.25 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 7,880 | $105,720 | $85,220 | $142,320 | 1.02 |
| Naples-Marco Island, FL | 300 | $105,440 | $69,200 | $128,200 | 1.01 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 380 | $105,240 | $79,620 | $124,800 | 1.31 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 1,370 | $105,230 | $81,450 | $122,740 | 1.33 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 1,030 | $105,160 | $83,980 | $134,910 | 1.48 |
| Columbus, OH | 2,030 | $105,130 | $79,060 | $124,110 | 1.07 |
| Toledo, OH | 560 | $104,750 | $80,040 | $125,070 | 1.11 |
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR | 430 | $104,500 | $81,180 | $127,900 | 0.91 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 780 | $104,350 | $78,410 | $132,360 | 1.21 |
| Cleveland, OH | 2,000 | $104,030 | $79,620 | $127,200 | 1.13 |
| North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL | 680 | $104,020 | $81,090 | $129,060 | 1.16 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 590 | $103,980 | $63,670 | $144,800 | 1.15 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,040 | $103,840 | $62,090 | $135,960 | 0.73 |
| Worcester, MA | 750 | $103,790 | $81,690 | $125,550 | 1.25 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 2,790 | $103,770 | $77,790 | $124,760 | 1.47 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 2,470 | $103,630 | $82,330 | $135,320 | 1.11 |
| Springfield, MA | 390 | $103,570 | $77,580 | $128,780 | 1.14 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 5,330 | $103,550 | $81,220 | $130,220 | 1.15 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 690 | $103,510 | $77,570 | $135,320 | 1.00 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4,250 | $103,440 | $81,280 | $132,100 | 0.85 |
| Eugene-Springfield, OR | 310 | $103,440 | $77,700 | $139,130 | 1.16 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 1,400 | $103,380 | $68,060 | $129,430 | 0.74 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 780 | $103,330 | $80,140 | $135,020 | 1.22 |
| Lancaster, PA | 430 | $103,240 | $77,610 | $132,180 | 1.00 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 3,760 | $103,220 | $82,840 | $134,410 | 0.92 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 1,710 | $103,030 | $83,090 | $125,170 | 1.21 |
| Jackson, MS | 520 | $103,000 | $77,200 | $120,740 | 1.13 |
| New Haven, CT | 610 | $103,000 | $84,010 | $128,520 | 1.26 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 4,540 | $102,980 | $79,080 | $137,070 | 0.84 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 3,770 | $102,970 | $80,690 | $131,140 | 1.15 |
| Manchester-Nashua, NH | 490 | $102,960 | $75,630 | $121,210 | 1.43 |
| Reading, PA | 300 | $102,950 | $77,580 | $127,860 | 1.00 |
The median is $102,760 a year ($49.40 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $77,140 and the highest-paid tenth over $135,140 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
267,330 in May 2025, and BLS projects +11.9% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS).
California, with a median of $124,190 (among states with published figures).